The borough's best businesses were crowned at the inaugural Sutton Business Awards.

Wallington-based company, Penta Consulting, a global IT and telecommunications staffing solutions business, won the big prize of Business of the Year at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at Epsom Racecourse last week hosted by South London Business.

It is the latest coup for the company, which has won a series of awards - including a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. At the Sutton Business Awards, Penta was also named Best Business for Training and Development while founder and chief executive Paul Clark was honoured as Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mr Clark said: "We started the business in 1998. Five of us started the company, which is why we are called Penta, and we started from a basement office in Wallington, absolutely from scratch with no internet or e-mail. We had index cards for the clients and just a fax in and fax out.

"Fifteen years later we have got 20 offices around the world, we deal in 85 countries and the business turns over £1m a week."

JW Cannon & Co Ltd were highly commended for the top award, with Theo the Magician and Sutton United FC both commended.

Sir Bob Scott, chairman of South London Business, said: "We are delighted with the success of the inaugural Sutton Business Awards which saw 180 companies register for the awards and 34 short-listed.

There were some excellent entries from businesses large and small and the 34 of the businesses represented here are winners.

As well as Handelsbanken, the Sutton Business Awards were sponsored by the Sutton Guardian, Sutton Chamber of Commerce, Carshalton College and Sutton Council.

Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Gerry Jerome, said: "These awards aim to support businesses in the community and give them the recognition they deserve."

For more details about the awards and winners, visit suttonbusinessawards.co.uk

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Best SME Business: Winner: Jancett Group

Best Business for Training and Development Winner: Penta Consulting

Commitment to the Community Winner: Theo the Magician

Best Business for Customer Service Winner: Maxim Eyes

Best Green Business Winner: Aqueous Logic Sutton’s Favourite Business

Winner: Studio 57 Best Business for Marketing Winner: JW Cannon & Co Ltd

Best Hospitality and Leisure Winner: Malcolm John Restaurants

Entrepreneur of the Year Winner: Penta Consulting

Best New Business Winner: Netwise Hosting Ltd

Business of the Year Winner: Penta Consulting