Chantry won the prize for most improved company while Chromoworks scooped the award for best overall company of the year - an amazing turnaround for a company that faced closure two years ago.

Over 300 people attended the event, held at Alton Towers, with Sun Chemical, MacFarlane Transport, MAN Roland, Business Design, UPM and the BPIF all sponsoring awards.

Comedian Lee Hurst and Olympic gold winner Sally Gunnell handed out the prizes.

"Although this is only the third awards we have held, they are proving increasingly competitive, in terms of nominations, and we are seeing a higher standard of entry," said Polestar group human resources director Catherine Hearn.

Other winners on the night included group commercial director Chris Barker, who won the chairman's award, the Polestar Greaves management team, which was named best team of the year, and Jim Algar of Polestar Colchester, who won managing director of the year.

The full list of winners:

Printing Technician of the Year Craig Allen, Polestar Colchester
Bindery Technician of the Year Akhlag Mughal, Polestar Chantry
Sales Person of the Year Rob Johnson, Retail Sales
Managing Director of the Year Jim Algar, Polestar Colchester
Best Customer Service Person Joint winners Amanda Footman, Polestar Colchester, and Ruth Hare, Polestar Greaves
Most Improved Company of the Year Polestar Chantry
Long Service Award Keith Owen Richards 48 years, Polestar Wheatons
Unsung Hero of the Year Richard Tweedy, News Sales
Best Team of the Year Polestar Greaves Management Team
Greg Thomas Young Person of the Year Award Mark Pryce, Apprentice, Polestar Greaves
Creative Team of the Year Polestar Applied Solutions
Chairman's Award Chris Barker, Polestar Group Commercial Director
Best Overall Company of the Year Polestar Chomoworks

Group marketing manager Jayne Jones was also presented with a special Unsung Hero Award.