Fi Innovations has been named Supreme Winner at tonight's 2021 Southland Business Excellence Awards.

A fourth generation family business, the Southland based business is a recognised New Zealand leader in 3D plastic printing and resin-based processes.

Fi Innovations also took home the Naked Creative Innovation Award and the Invercargill City Council Construction, Trades, Manufacturing & Distribution Sector Award. Owner Gareth Dykes was also a finalist in the Meridian Energy One to Watch Award.

A record 141 applications were received over the 11 categories including the new Meridian Energy One to Watch award – recognising those new leaders coming through in the start-up space or transformation of existing organisations.

Southland Business Chamber chief executive officer Sheree Carey said “The Judges were truly inspired by the innovative and passionate stories from throughout the Southland region and the world, and the resilience shown in the past two years during the pandemic".

Due to strict Covid red restrictions tonight's premier awards event was held before an in-house audience of just 100 finalists, sponsors and judges. However it is thought that many of the around 500 ticket holders who weren't allowed to attend would have dialed in to view the event via live stream.

The Southland Business Excellence Awards 2021 winners are:

• Southland Business Chamber Supreme Award – Fi Innovations
• Southern Institute of Technology Business Personality Award -Joc O’Donnell (Transport World/H W Richardson Group)
• Findex Primary & Primary Services Sector Award – Alliance Group
• Invercargill City Council Construction, Trades, Manufacturing & Distribution Sector Award – Fi Innovations
• PowerNet New and Emerging Award -Crunchy
• The Southland Times Consumer Service Sector Award – Transport World (Highly Commended - Black Shag Boutique Café)
• Invercargill Licensing Trust Not for Profit Award – Koha Kai
• Progress People Professional Service Sector Award – Digital Stock (Highly Commended - Malloch McClean)
• Naked Creative Innovation Award – Fi Innovations
• ACC Workplace Injury Prevention Award – Altitude Resurfacing
• Blue River Dairy Workplace Wellbeing Award – Aquila Sustainable Farming
• Meridian Energy One to Watch Award – Benji Biswas

Jocelyn O'Donnell (centre) from Transport World/H W Richardson Group was the winner of the Southern Institute of Technology Business Personality Award. Photo: Supplied

Aquila Sustainable Farming received the Blue River Dairy Workplace Wellbeing Award. Photo: Supplied