A number of county businesses have been recognised as being among "the best in the West".

A Forest of Dean artisan organic bakery that was founded in a family garage and is now supplying organic box schemes across the UK is among a host of winners from Gloucestershire and the West of England who have been declared 'the best in the West' by winning regional titles in the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.

Twelve companies and individuals from the region - who have been invited to receive their awards at the FSB South West Bootcamp in Exeter on Wednesday (March 13) - will now go forward to represent the South West at a glittering national final in Blackpool in May.

Among those celebrating success are Longhope Authentic Bread Company which started life in a family garage and is now the largest dedicated organic bakery in the UK who beat off stiff competition to be crowned as the South West Family Award winner.

Other Gloucestershire winners were BioStart, Gloucester, who won the Innovation Award, and Firestarter Business Solutions Ltd, Cheltenham, who won the Expansion and Growth Award.

Sam Holliday, the FSB development manager for Gloucestershire and the West of England, said he was thrilled to see so many local successes.

Sam said: "I was fortunate enough to see a lot of the entries as they came in and I was genuinely staggered at the variety and quality across every sector I looked up.

"It was clear that any business that emerged with a title from such an incredibly strong field of candidates must have something really special about them and I am so pleased to see winners from Bristol, the Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Cheltenham among them. I truly hope one or more of them will add a national title to their regional one as well."

The Gloucestershire winners of FSB South West Award winners are:

Innovation Award

Winner: BioStart, Gloucester

BioStart, from Protrack Solutions Limited, is a family run business specialising in fleet GPS tracking products and fleet management systems. Building their own platform, they have both patented and designed the world's first "remote" biometric anti-theft and engine immobilisation device for vehicles ranging from fork lift trucks to plant and road vehicles. BioStart is the first biometric immobilisation device to be Thatcham Research approved and insurance recognised to reduce theft, claims and emergency service responses all while improving on driver performance and Health and Safety.

Expansion and Growth Award

Winner: Firestarter Business Solutions Ltd, Cheltenham

Established in 2012 by co-founders Chris O'Riordan and Matt Wheeler, Firestarter Business Solutions has helped hundreds of businesses of all sizes across multiple sectors, sell more of whatever it is they sell. The 12-strong team, which has more than doubled in the last 12 months, has a broad skillset which includes high-level sales, marketing and business development expertise leading to impressive business growth and client base.

Family Business of the Year

Winner: Authentic Bread Company, Longhope

The Authentic Bread Company is an artisan organic bakery, whose vision was to return to traditional methods of bread making, with no additives or preservatives. Based in rural Gloucestershire and established in 1995 the Davis family have grown their artisan bakery from modest beginnings in the family garage. The business started by supplying local farm shops and health food stores with organic bread and is now the biggest dedicated organic bakery in the UK supplying organic box schemes Riverford Organic, Abel and Cole as well as Daylesford.

Other award winners were:

Sustainability Award: Cofton Country Holidays Ltd., Exeter

Microbusiness of the Year: Essential 6 Ltd., Torquay

Self-employed / Freelancer Award: HR Vitals, St Austell

Start-up Business of the Year: Parade House, Trowbridge

Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Natasha Mortimer, Imagineerium, Bristol

Franchise Business Award: Your Man With A Van, Poole

Community Business Award: Bath Philharmonia

Diversity and Inclusion Award: Craddys, Poole,

Service Excellence Award: Next Steps Education, Bideford