A MALVERN company has been crowned West Midlands Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.

Malvern Instruments also collected the regional award for Achievement in International Business, and will now go on to compete in both categories against the UK’s best businesses in the Chamber Awards, hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce.

Malvern Instruments, based at the Enigma Business Park, designs and manufactures particle size analysis tools and other scientific instrumentation used in industry fields such as nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

Managing director Paul Walker said: “We are surprised and delighted to have won in both categories amidst such strong competition.”

Much Marcle-based drinks producer H Weston and Son was another regional winner, picking up the Award for Excellence in People Development.

Westons was praised by judges for its introduction of the ‘Westons Academy’ to help develop its staff.

Managing director Helen Thomas said: “We are so proud to have won this award in recognition of our commitment to our workforce - our greatest asset.”

Both companies were praised by Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

“I know that there was strong competition from across the West Midlands in these awards and it is great to see our companies get the recognition they fully deserve,” he said. “We hope both get national recognition as well.”

The national winners will be announced during a ceremony at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms on Thursday, November 24.