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THE founder of a company which has revolutionised parcel delivery for businesses has praised his workforce after picking up two top honours at the Oxfordshire Business Awards.

Stuart Miller, chief executive of ByBox, based in Grove, picked up the Oxfordshire Business of the Year award as well as being named the county's Business Person of the Year. He said: "This has been a genuine team effort. It has taken a long time for us to get to this position but it is fantastic that we are being recognised now."

ByBox has a network of electronic "dropboxes" which are used by customers across the UK to deliver a range of items, typically parts provided by service engineers.

The company has grown from just a handful of staff in 2002 to a company employing 180 people with a turnover of almost £25m.

The winner of the Charity and Community award was Chipping Norton Lido, the town's outdoor swimming pool, which was saved from closure in 2005 by residents and is run as a charity.

Employing 20 people, it runs a full programme of events for young and old, including free sessions for teenagers and pensioners, as well as a range of social activities.

The Growing Business award was won by public relations company Three Monkeys Communications, based at Milton Park, near Didcot.

Managing director Annabel Dunstan said she was "thrilled" with the honour, its second Oxfordshire award after winning the Creative category last year.

The Building and Construction category was won by Cowley-based builders' merchants Buildbase, which has seen its branches grow from the original Johnsons depot in Watlington Road to about 150 around the UK.

Staff at Didcot-based housing association Soha Housing are celebrating winning their second title in the Customer and Staff Care Award in three years.

Chief executive Richard Peacock said the success reflected well on the organisation's 100 staff.

He said: "We have 5,000 tenants who have very different needs.

"It is quite tricky to keep everyone happy, so this award is doubly rewarding."

Soha manages more than 5,000 homes which are for affordable rent or shared ownership.

Expanding high-tech chemical company Oxford Catalysts, also of Milton Park, carried off the Innovation award. The firm, which hopes to revolutionise the process of turning gas or coal into liquid fuel, as well as developing green biofuels, started in 2004 as a spin-off from Oxford University.

Business development director Derek Atkinson said: "Entering the awards has been very rewarding for everyone concerned."

Jemma Proctor, co-founder of Summertown-based design company One, was "deeply chuffed" to win the Creative award.

Henley-based Onelan which develops electronic signs was named Small Business of the Year.

There was a tinge of regret for the Young Business Person of the Year, Ross Elder, of Summertown-based Holiday Lettings, which specialises in advertising the holiday homes of people across the UK.

Mr Elder, 33, who set up Holiday Lettings with schoolfriend Andy Firth, said: "It's lovely to get that kind of honour. The only shame is that I couldn't enter jointly with Andy as he was the technical brains behind the idea."

Blenheim Palace administrator John Hoy said the historic Woodstock venue's Hospitality and Leisure award would ensure it was kept in the public eye and was great recognition from peers.

The Property and Construction Award went to expanding building firm Ridge and Partners.

The Sustainability award was won by Witney-based engineering firm Gifford and Partners.

4:31pm Thursday 26th June 2008

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