Simon Barbato, founder and CEO of Bath-based brand, digital and marketing agency Mr B & Friends, and Brady George, managing director of Keynsham-based facilities management company Almeda Facilities, have been shortlisted for the Institute of Directors (IoD) South West regional Director of the Year Awards.
Simon, pictured, founded Mr B & Friends 10 years ago and has grown the business from a bedroom start-up to the
city’s largest agency of its kind and one of the fastest-growing in the region.
It has doubled its staff in the past three years and now employs 36 people looking after high-profile clients ranging from utility SSE, Principality Building Society and the Intercontinental Hotel Group.
The company is closely involved in a number of charities and community activities and offers a number of paid internships every year to help young people develop their experience of the creative, marketing and digital communications industry.
Brady George, pictured, became managing director of Almeda last year, taking over from his father Gary who set up the business in 2007.
Brady joined the firm seven years ago and worked in every department of the business before taking on his previous role as operations director. 
The family-owned business, which turns over nearly £6m and employs more than 50 staff, works with organisations to manage their buildings and ensure they are run as efficiently as possible. Clients include At-Bristol, Arnolfini, Bristol & Bath Science Park and SS Great Britain.
The South West IoD Director Awards seek to highlight and celebrate outstanding business people across the region, bringing the enterprise community together and focusing UK-wide attention on South West success.
Categories include Young Director, Family Business, Not for Profit/Third Sector, Corporate Responsibility and Director of the Year. Bath Business News and its sister titles Bristol Business News and Swindon Business News are once again media partners for the awards.
The winners will be announced at the region’s annual celebration event on June 9 at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium. They then go forward for a chance to be a national award winner, judged against all other regional finalists.
IoD South West chairman Nick Sturge said: “Once again we had an extremely high standard of entries demonstrating the breadth and depth of talent, enterprise and leadership across the region.
“Against a backdrop of some political uncertainty, there is no lack of enthusiasm and innovation, continuing to hold up the region’s reputation as a place to do business.
“Great leadership is essential to steer an organisation forward and our award scheme looks for individuals who understand and fulfil their responsibilities as directors or trustees.”
The guest speaker at the awards dinner is local entrepreneur Helena Hills, co-founder of True Start Coffee which is creating a niche in the market for high-performance coffee.
The overall winner will also receive a Meridian leadership course from Common Purpose.
