A BESPOKE travel company with a global reach has been named West Oxfordshire’s Business of the Year 2018.

Audley Travel was revealed as the winner of this year’s West Oxfordshire Business Awards (WOBA)at a ceremony at Heythrop Park Resort on Friday.

The event also saw the company presented with the Sandler Training Large Business of the Year award.

Judges said Audley Travel deserved recognition for its strong and flexible leadership, impressive business growth and for becoming a major employer in West Oxfordshire with more than 300 staff at its head office in Witney and a further 400 employees split between offices in London and Boston, United States.

Ben Colbridge, of Audley Travel, said: “Although we are a truly global business our company has been based in Oxfordshire for the majority of its lifetime and we are proud of our Witney location.

“Audley’s ethos is very much about ‘one team’ – one of our values – so this award really does mean something to everyone at Audley.”

Other WOBA 2018 winners included Sassi, which picked up the NFU Retail Award.

Sassi is a clothes shop for women in Witney, which was founded by two women who invested £500 each five years ago.

Lisa Clements, co-founder of Sassi, said: “We felt that we were winners anyway, but being a WOBA winner really is the icing on the cake.

“We are two working mums who had a dream and we have made our dream happen.”

The successful duo now compete in High Street space and are invited alongside buyers from well known brands to meetings with top fashion designers

Safety Services UK, based in Long Hanborough, won the Owen Mumford Innovation Award at Friday’s business celebration.

The company has developed a ‘client portal app’ to help small businesses from a variety of industries manage compliance audits, risk assessments and changes in legislation.

Now in its eighth year, WOBA aims to connect and celebrate a strong business community in West Oxfordshire.

Jo Sensecall, spokeswoman for the WOBA organising team was thrilled with the strong competition.

She said: “Congratulations to all WOBA 2018 winners who represent this year’s top West Oxfordshire businesses.

“All of them deserve the recognition that winning a business award provides to help shine a light on their hard work, dedication and what is being achieved collectively to help ensure our district continues to thrive.”

More than £2,800 was raised for Bridewell Organic Gardens, a mental health charity that provides horticultural and therapeutic care.

Next year’s business awards charity is Volunteer Link-Up, winner of The Rooflight Company Charity of the Year Award 2018.