Gloucestershire business got a massive pat on the back on Thursday 22nd October 2004 as the seventh annual awards ceremony took place at Cheltenham Town Hall. Business of the Year Stonehouse-based Travelscope Promotions Ltd were the winners of the night's most prestigious ward - Business of the Year. Launched 12 years ago, they were first tour operator to offer a Caribbean cruise that started and finished in the United Kingdom. Today they're one of the largest UK tour operators with an annual turnover of around £46 million and carrying over 200,000 passengers each year. This year also saw the company play an important role in the D-Day 60th Anniversary commemorations by providing the cruise ship which carried the veterans and their families to Normandy. Managing director Richard Ford (pictured below) had this to say about winning the prestigious award: "Surprised and very pleased. In fact we're considerably overwhelmed because it's the first time we've ever entered anything of this nature. We've won many travel awards over the years but never anything locally here in Gloucestershire and I think it's great to get that local recognition." Award winners Here's the full list of Business Award winners from the gala night: Business of the Year:
Travelscope Promotions Limited Small Business of the Year:
D. W. Dunn Limited Young Businessperson of the Year:
Simon Kershaw
(SK Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Ltd.) Contribution to the Community:
Cheltenham & Gloucester Business Innovation:
BCF Designs Limited e-Business:
Commercial Limited Workforce Development:
Clarkson Evans Limited Social Enterprise of the Year:
The Furniture Recycling Project Environmental Business:
Zurich Financial Services 
If you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.ukor have your say on our messageboard | 
The seventh annual Gloucestershire Business Awards saw a number of local companies recognised for their successful and innovative business practices in 2004...
