CHELTENHAM: Paul Bence, managing director of George Bence & Sons Builders' Merchants was the winner of the 'Young Business Person of the Year Award at last night's Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo Business Awards.

At the ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse, hundreds of representatives from the county's business community gathered at the Centaur Centre to find out who took the honours in the 11 categories in the 13th annual awards event.

George Bence & Sons was also one of the finalists in the Family Business of the Year category.

The company has been established since 1899 and is one of Gloucestershire's leading family-owned independent builders' merchants.

Mr Bence recently took over from Ian Crowe as managing director and following his success at the Gloucestershire Business Awards, he promises to take the company onwards and upwards.

 

"It has been an unbelievable few weeks for me on a personal note, and I couldn't have done it without the hard work and support of my staff and close family. This is the beginning of a new chapter for me and I very much look forward to exciting times, both at home and in the workplace," he said.