IT was an evening of great success for Hart firms at this year’s Inspire Business Awards with the district boasting four winners.

At a glittering awards ceremony attended by over 500 business people from across north Hampshire, winners of the awards celebrating the very best of north Hampshire’s business success were announced.

With entries and winners spanning across the entirety of the north Hampshire region the Inspire awards culminated in a spectacular evening held in the Hampshire Arena at Hampshire Court Hotel.

For Hook, great acclaim was given to one of its newest business, Hartlett’s Cafe, which won the award for New Business of the Year.

The cafe has only been running for 19 months but the success was five years in the making.

Owner and director Jenny Copeland learned that the Hook Community Centre was being refurbished, and she saw the opportunity to install a cafe on the site to enhance the area, especially given the number of people using the sports and recreational facilities nearby.

The mother-of-two had been waiting 10 years to find the right spot to open a new cafe in Hook, having previously been working for Oxford University and catering at summer garden parties at Buckingham Palace.

She was desperate to set up her own business and despite the use of public money meaning the rebuild of the community centre moved slowly, Mrs Copeland offered to bear the financial risk of kitting out the cafe space which she now rents from the community centre.

Praised by judges for her “passion and tenacity” and her employment and training, she was also acclaimed for her “true entrepreneurial spirit”.

Following her success, Mrs Copeland said: “This venture was something I wanted to do for myself, rather than continuing to work in the corporate world. Seeing the positive reaction to the cafe’s opening makes me realise I was right to follow my gut instinct.

“I have been lucky enough to have a career working in some fantastic venues, learning and meeting some amazing and talented people over the years, many of whom have become trusted friends and colleagues. When deciding to charter into unknown waters by opening Hartletts Cafe, it seemed quite daunting as I had no idea what would happen.

“However, the staff, the local people, community centre users, local groups, builders, mums, families, grandparents and teenagers have all played a valuable part in the success of the cafe. They have made it the vibrant ‘hub’ it is today and we wouldn’t have achieved this great accolade without their custom. The support and community spirit means that this award is not mine, but ours!”

Another Hart success story was that of Andwell Brewing Company, which as well as coming runners up in the Small Business of the Year award, won the Family Business of the Year award.

Judges said: “Andwells are a true family business combining entrepreneurship and family values and a good taste for beer to make a very successful micro-brewery.”

The brewery which has won numerous awards for its beers, including a hugely successful Pilsner, were blown away by the news they had won.

Run by husband and wife team Adam and Helen Komrower, they said: “We are thrilled to have been judged the winner of the Inspire16 Family Business of the Year Award.

“Running a family business brings both challenges and rewards, but our successes are due to the dedication of the whole Andwell’s team and most importantly, our loyal local customer base.

“It really is fantastic to have received recognition of all the effort that has been put in over the last eight years and it’s a great platform from which to promote our new cafe and function space, which is due to open in early 2017.”

The Odiham Cake Company was one of the runners up for the Family Business award.

The biggest and most prestigious award of the evening went to R Collard Ltd, which won the Business of the Year award.

Robert Collard from Hook runs and owns his Ewshot business which was described as a “remarkable business that has changed an industry”.

It has been rewarded for it’s pioneering of the one-stop shop for demolition, recycling and waste disposal.

The business started with just a second-hand tipper truck, and through hard work and dogged determination it now has a multi-million turnover.

The fourth winner from Hart was Fleet Mortgages, which was awarded the Employer of the Year prize. The company was commended for its “refreshing set up” and “investment in their staff in terms of benefits, development and involving the staff in decisions.”

Michael Buerk renowned journalist and TV presenter, who is patron of Challengers, the charity partner for the evening, said: “It has been great fun to be part of this tremendous celebration and to hear all the stories of entrepreneurship. North Hampshire clearly is a great place for business.”

MP Ranil Jayawardena who was in attendance to see the business success within his constituency said: “Ahead of the upcoming Autumn Statement, it was really helpful - and uplifting - to meet local businesses of all sizes alongside Hart District Council at the Inspire Business Awards.”