Last night more than 1,000 people attended one of the highlights of the Manx calendar, the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence.

It’s an annual celebration of the best in Manx life.

The Villa Marina audience saw prizes given in 16 different categories plus a lifetime achievement award.

The winners were:

Charity, Cultural & Social Enterprise: Manx Breast Cancer Support Group

Customer Service: The Tea Junction

Digital Champions: Isle of Man Code Club

Volunteer of the Year: Sylvia & Les Lawrinson, Samaritans Isle of Man

Teamwork: Manx Competitive Music, Speech & Dance Festival

Young Achiever of the Year: Ben Grainger

International Business of the Year: Triumph Integrated Systems

Public Sector Achievement of the Year: Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture

Excellence in the Use of Technology: Goshawk Communications Ltd

Small Medium Enterprise: D&G Foods Ltd

New Business/Innovation: Mannin Hotel

Innovation & Independent Thinking: Dhoon School

Business Person of the Year: Micky Swindale

Workplace Wellbeing: Microgaming

Company of the Year: Rock Food Concepts

Freedom to Flourish: Adventurous Experiences

The Lifetime Achievement award was won by Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, the couple from the Isle of Man behind clothes designer company Preen.

The audience heard from many of their customers, including Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the USA.

Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner will include a special supplement about the awards.