From dependable technical expertise to highly personal services built around important moments and individual wellbeing, the 2026 Somerset Business Awards recognise a varied group of businesses making their mark across the county. Our Winners demonstrate how strong customer relationships, professional standards and a clear sense of purpose can support meaningful growth across sectors as diverse as automotive care, critical infrastructure, plumbing, weddings and wellness.
Our 2026 Somerset Business Award Winners
Built by three young family members with a shared passion for the automotive industry, Proflex Detailing Ltd has earned the Best Car Detailing Service award in the Automotive Awards. The business combines professional training, safe cleaning methods and high-quality products with a careful, customer-focused approach to every vehicle. Operating from a Somerset studio and through a fully equipped mobile service, the team has also adapted its expertise for agricultural machinery and export decontamination work. Its strong repeat customer base, community automotive events and continued investment in specialist services demonstrate a business developing its reputation without compromising the standards behind its early success.
Rapid commercial progress and substantial technical experience have secured Critical Backup Solutions Ltd the title of Small Business of the Year in the Small Business Awards. Since launching in July 2025, the electrical contracting business has generated turnover exceeding £300,000 and delivered standby power projects for organisations including UK Power Networks and Transport for London. Its work covers system design, installation, compliance, risk mitigation and specialist consultancy, providing clients with complete support for critical power infrastructure. The addition of the company’s first employee, alongside repeat business and growing demand, reflects a well-managed start-up establishing credibility in a technically demanding field.
A commitment to making plumbing and heating work clearer and less stressful for customers underpins the success of Kesselmann Heating and Plumbing Ltd, our Plumbing Company of the Year in the Trades Professionals Awards. The business places communication, preparation and respect for the customer’s home alongside reliable workmanship. Whether completing boiler installations, heating improvements, fault-finding or general plumbing repairs, its approach includes careful diagnosis, straightforward explanations and honest recommendations. This focus on the entire customer experience, from the first enquiry to final handover and aftercare, provides a strong justification for its recognition.
Authentic storytelling and a highly personal client experience have helped Just James Weddings win Best Wedding Service Provider in the Wedding Services Awards. Since beginning with five weddings in its first season, the photography business has grown to cover more than forty weddings annually and is now recommended by venues across Somerset and Devon. Its candid, documentary-led style is supported by professional equipment, tailored editing and flexible packages that can include videography and content creation through a local partnership. Consistent five-star feedback, industry recognition and strong referral-led growth demonstrate the trust the business has built with couples.
Drawing on more than a decade of experience as an NHS midwife, Violet Tomlinson of Total Gut Health & Wellness Centre has been named Startup Businesswoman of the Year in the Women in Business Awards. Since opening the centre in January 2025, Violet has developed a multidisciplinary wellness space providing services including colon hydrotherapy, manual lymphatic drainage, microbiome analysis and tailored lifestyle support. Growing demand has enabled the centre to expand and welcome three additional independent female practitioners, creating a collaborative setting for acupuncture, massage and women’s wellness services. Violet’s emphasis on professional registration, evidence-informed care, client education and an inclusive clinic environment has established a strong foundation for the business’s continued development.
Celebrating Somerset’s Business Community
This year’s Somerset Winners show that business achievement can take many forms. It can be found in the careful treatment of a customer’s vehicle, the reliable operation of essential power systems, the reassurance provided by a trusted tradesperson, the preservation of an important personal occasion or the creation of a supportive healthcare environment.
Across each of these businesses, there is a clear commitment to quality, communication and continued improvement. Their achievements also reflect the value of specialist knowledge paired with a genuine understanding of what customers need. From recently launched ventures already generating substantial demand to growing family businesses and independent service providers, our Somerset Winners represent a confident and capable regional business community.
