About - Carms Business AwardsCarms Business Awards

Introduction
Our Judges
FAQs

Introduction

We are thrilled to announce the launch of this year’s Carmarthenshire Business Awards, following the resounding success of last year’s inaugural event.

Carmarthenshire, affectionately known as “The Garden of Wales,” is a county renowned for its stunning cultural landscapes, expansive beaches, and bustling market towns brimming with local produce. It is also home to a dynamic and diverse business community, bursting with entrepreneurial spirit and innovation across numerous sectors.

The Carmarthenshire Business Awards were created to celebrate and honour this remarkable community, shining a spotlight on the ventures—big and small—that are making a significant impact in the county

This year’s glamorous black-tie event will take place on Friday 11th July 2025 at Parc Y Scarlets. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a drinks reception, followed by a delicious three-course dinner, and then the much-anticipated awards ceremony. It’s set to be an unforgettable night of celebration, connection, and recognition for the thriving business community of Carmarthenshire.

We are proud to announce that every year we raise funds for a Welsh charity and a portion of every ticket sold will be donated to said charity, and there will also be opportunities to contribute further during the evening.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Liz Brookes
Founder of Carmarthenshire Business Awards/Director of Grapevine Event Management

Our Judges

Rupert Moon

Chair of Judges

Winning 24 caps for Wales at scrum half, Rupert Moon’s rugby career successfully spanned 17 years. Retiring from professional rugby in 2002, some might wonder where he could go from there, but Rupert’s broad and respected professional career in business consultancy, broadcasting and customer relations ever since speaks for itself.

Strategy Director for the RNF Property Group, Rupert continues to build on 20 years of unrivalled commercial and customer service experience. With great success Rupert has headed up and driven major commercial strategies for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Millennium Stadium; led on a rebrand as Marketing Director for Wales’ largest insurance brokers; been Commercial Director for the Scarlets following their transition to the new Parc y Scarlets Stadium; and set up a new regional rugby team in North Wales, where he oversaw the staffing, operational and strategic management of joint WRU and Conwy Council initiatives.

Angharad Lloyd-Beynon

Angharad Lloyd Beynon is a Senior Policy, Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager at City & Guilds and looks after Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. She supports City & Guilds’ purpose of enabling people and organisations to unlock their potential and develop the knowledge and skills needed for personal and economic growth. Angharad works closely with key stakeholders across the nations to achieve this.

Angharad is a Liveryman for the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales. She is also a Board member for Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion and is a member of the Leadership Board for Business in The Community Wales. Angharad is also the Co-chair of the Federation of Awarding Bodies Wales and Scotland, volunteers for BGM Hospital Radio and is also on the Employment Advisory Board for Cardiff and Parc Prison.

Ken Duxberry

Carmarthen born and bred, Ken started his career working with British Rail before moving in to the family business of Chris cabs and Coracle Coaches. Having seen the potential before him over the last few years he has grown the business providing massive employment within the county which is always been his focal point. Coracle Coaches offers both luxury Coach Tours and day-to-day school transportation. He is proud to boast Transport for Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Ddd Health Board and the Scarlets as his clients. Ken is pleased to be involved in the inaugural Carmarthenshire Business Awards.

Liz Brookes

Founder of the Carmarthenshire Business Awards and Director of Grapevine Event Management

Liz Brookes is the Owner and Managing Director of Grapevine Event Management Ltd. A graduate of Cardiff University in Social Policy, Liz went on to carve a career in the events industry, responsible for organising events throughout Europe and the UK for numerous public and private sector organisations.

Liz founded Grapevine Event Management in March 2011 and it is now one of the most well recognised corporate events companies in Wales delivering high quality creative and innovative events across the UK.

Faqs

How many categories can I enter?

You can enter up to 2 categories.

Is my company eligible to enter the awards?

The business must be located within the local authority area of Carmarthenshire and business rates must also be paid to Carmarthenshire Council. The business should have started to trade on or before 11^th July 2024.

What is the judging process?

The judging process can be found here.

Can I save my application form and return later?

The application form is required to be completed in one go as you cannot save and return later. We suggest you make a note of the application questions and prepare offline before submitting your details.

How long is the interview?

The interview should take no longer than 15 minutes. A 10-minute presentation and 5 minutes of Q&A. We request no computer aids, as we would love to hear the passion come from you directly.

How many people can attend/ join the Interview?

We kindly request that only 2 representatives attend/join the interview.

Can someone attend in my absence?

Yes of course, we welcome any passionate member of your company/team to attend to let us know why you are so great!

If I/my company is shortlisted, do I get any free tickets to the Awards night?

Everyone is asked to purchase tickets from the website in advance of the evening. Priority is given to shortlisted companies and sponsors but it is on a first come first served basis so you are advised to book early to guarantee the tickets you require.

How much are tickets for the Carmarthenshire Business Awards?

Tables of 10 can be purchased for £800 + VAT, individual tickets are £88 + VAT. Tickets include a £3 donation to the chosen charity for the awards. Payment must be received prior to the event.