BURY companies have blazed their way to a “hat trick” of successes in the first Talk of Manchester Business Awards.

Horsfield & Smith, Financial Options and Julie Perry Events helped make it an evening to remember thanks to their achievements within their individual categories.

The awards, to celebrate the best SME (small-medium enterprises) support businesses Greater Manchester has to offer, were held at the National Football Museum in Manchester. Nominations were invited in August, with 68 companies being put forward. Voting started in October for 20 days when business people cast 25,344 votes.

At the awards ceremony, attended by 300 guests, Horsfield and Smith scooped the Best Accountant title, Financial Options triumphed in the Best IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) category while Julie Perry Events won the Best Event Company section.

Mr Jonathan Staples, director of Walmersley Road-based Horsfield and Smith, said: “We take great pride in this award, knowing that support from our clients helped play a huge part in us gaining such recognition. This is fantastic news for us.”

Just days earlier, the company had been commended in the legal and financial section of the first Made in Bury Business Awards. Horsfield and Smith has a 23-strong staff.

Also celebrating was Financial Options, located in Tenterden Street, Bury, which has had a presence in the town for 11 years and employs more than 20 people.

Managing director Mr Christian Pepper said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won, it’s amazing.

“I think what swung it for us was the level of customer service we provide to our clients and the passion we have about what we do in delivering advice to individual and corporate clients in Bury, the North West and the UK.”

Completing the hat-trick was Julie Perry Events, which is based in Church Meadow, Bury.

Julie Perry has more than 20 years’ experience in the events industry and has worked on an array of high profile events, including Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s Italian wedding in 2008.