Headline Sponsor
Bury Free Press West Suffolk Business Awards
The curtain fell on Bury Free Press West Suffolk Business Awards season at The Apex on Friday night. The best in business across the Free Press catchment and West Suffolk district were celebrated across 13 categories in an evening hosted by EastEnders royalty Shaun Williamson. Best known for his turn as Barry Evans in the BBC soap, Shaun had the crowd up and dancing to hits including Amarillo and Sweet Caroline, while he also serenaded the crowd with the iconic ‘Something Inside So Strong’ by Labi Siffre.
The nominees and sponsors, who met for the first time at our ‘Meet the Finalist’ networking event, sponsored by Greene King, at Edmunds Restaurant on October 1, were welcomed to The Apex with a drinks reception, sponsored by The EpiCentre.
Magician Jamie Segrave made his way through the crowd, entertaining and wowing guests with his tricks, while Finley and Isaac, from West Suffolk College, performed for the opening hour. Caricaturist Robyn Hepburn also thrilled guests in the opening hours.
Attendees then made their way through to the main hall, where speeches by Steve Elsom, West Suffolk chair at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Ricky Allan, digital development officer at Iliffe Media, and Indy Wijenayaka, cabinet member for growth at West Suffolk Council, were given.
Food was then served, provided by Cambridge Dining Company, before the celebrations commenced, where nominees and sponsors truly showed their colours. Every winner and highly commended was loudly applauded and celebrated, providing a buoyant and vibrant atmosphere to commemorate the best in the business community across the area.
Following the presentation of the awards, guests made their way upstairs for the after party, including a disco, photo booth, candy cart and casino tables which truly cemented the celebratory atmosphere.
Barry Peters, editor of the Bury Free Press, said: “Wow, what an absolutely incredible night we had at the 2026 Bury Free Press West Suffolk Business Awards. “I’ve said it before, the business community in this area really is second to none, and the vibrancy of the celebrations on Friday night definitely demonstrated that. “The support in this district for one another is immense, and to see it on show in person was a delight – as was our brilliant host Shaun who truly encapsulated and invigorated the celebratory mood. “My sincere thanks to all our amazing finalists and sponsors, in particular our brilliant headline partner Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, and to our team at the Bury Free Press for creating such a magical night.” This year was another record-setter for entries, even yielding the first ever five-strong shortlist and dual highly commended in the Business of the Year – Small category.
Click here to view all our Winners & Finalists
Award Categories
Our Main Sponsor - Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has been providing unwavering support for the success of businesses in Suffolk, and the region's thriving economy, since 1884.
As a private sector, not-for-profit member led organisation, our core competencies of Connect, Support, Inform, and Inspire reflect our commitment to advocating for our members' interests at all levels. Through lobbying and advocacy, strong relationships with policymakers, networking events, professional development, business resources, and access to exclusive services, we empower businesses to grow and thrive.
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce is the largest independent business forum in the county. The Chamber was originally established in 1884. Our membership accounts for over 100,000 employees and our reach is deep - with regular access and communication to many other businesses across every part of Suffolk and across every sector, where we champion, represent and respond as the voice of Suffolk business but our impact extends beyond our members. We actively contribute to Suffolk's economic development by promoting job creation, business retention, and community outreach. By collaborating with various stakeholders, we work towards shared goals and objectives, fostering a thriving business ecosystem.