THE Jersey Surf School took the top honours at the Jersey Enterprise Awards last night.

The organisation, which was established in 1988 and offers surfing lessons to both Islanders and tourists, was selected by the judges as the winner of the NatWest Small Business Award and the Jersey Telecom overall Business of the Year prize.

The organisation attracted in excess of 8,000 people during 2008 and its Surf Safe Summer Campaign has been taken into schools and clubs Island-wide.

‘Jersey Surf School’s manager, Jim Hughes, described running the business as ‘a lot of fun’. ‘We’ve had a fantastic year,’ he said. ‘Winning this is just great. It was a big shock.’

Ruth Dolbel, stalwart of the 9th Jersey St Luke’s Cub Pack was awarded the Garenne Group Community Award and JFSC chairman Colin Powell the Ambassador of the Year Award.

Other winners were: UBS Medium Business Award for companies with between six and 30 staff: Foreshore Ltd; Play.com Large Business Award for companies with more than 30 staff: Standard Chartered (Jersey) Ltd; Altis Partners Training in Business Award: Health and Social Services Pre-Registration Nursing Programme; Indigo Lighthouse Group Entrepreneur of the Year Award: James Baker (Grafters)

• Picture: Jersey Surf School manager Jim Hughes and Kat Assiter with the awards

• Words: Anthony Dearie                        • Pictures: David Ferguson

• Picture sales: Click here