Nearly 70 local businesses were welcomed to the first Portland Business Awards.

It is the latest to launch in a series of award schemes across Dorset and Hampshire, run by Marketing West.

With 12 categories, and an overall winner, there were more than 30 awards up for grabs at the inaugural event.

Overall Business of the Year went to Portland builders Laming & Sons, a well respected local business trading on the island and in Dorset for more than 50 years.

They are also a major supporter of the Portland community and one local described them as ‘Portland through and through’ at the awards. 

Organiser Nigel Reeve said: "Yet again these awards have shown the demand for truly local awards that inspire, motivate and reward the many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in each community.

"They not only enjoy the awards ceremony, that brings excitement and some quite emotional reactions, but also appreciate the boost of recognition an award brings to their business."

Other winners included the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for Best Place to Work, Jo Peters of the Penn Estate for Business Person of the Year, and Portland Foodbank for Community Support.

There were also awards for Traders Takeaway Café, voted Café of the Year, the Heights Hotel for Customer Service, new bakery Bee’s Knees Bakes as Independent Business of the Year, Island Accountancy as New Business, and O’Three Ltd as Small Business of the Year, a national and international manufacturer and supplier of diving suits.