The event, hosted by quick-witted comedian Dara O Briain, celebrated the Power of Print across its many guises and applications.
The Grosvenor House Great Room looked stunning as high-tech graphics kicked off a pulsating evening.
PrintWeek editor and publisher Darryl Danielli set the upbeat tone when he opened proceedings with a welcome speech highlighting the renewed sense of optimism in the industry.
He said: “I believe that when we look back on 2013, it will become apparent that it was a truly transformative year for print, when our focus finally switched from survival to growth and opportunity.”
With 23 hotly-contested categories awarded on the night, it was Enfield-based Inc Direct that triumphed as PrintWeek’s Company of the Year. The £5.9m firm won praise for its strong financial performance, fuelled by its expertise in multi-channel personalised communication services that have delivered impressive growth for Inc Direct and successful campaigns for its clients.
Chief executive Noel Warner said: “We’re on top of the world, it’s fantastic. There were some big names up there and it’s a tough category. When our name was announced it was the proudest moment of my career.”
Warner added: “I believe passionately in the business and the people who work at Inc Direct, we’re doing great stuff working with fabulous customers. To get this PrintWeek Award is a validation of our strategy -everything we’re doing is about value-added, not a commodity. This is like winning an Oscar.”
Multi-Award winners included Pureprint Group, which carried off three trophies; while The Westdale Press, Screaming Colour and Real Digital International each took home a brace of Awards.
Attendees also gave generously to the prize draw in aid of The Printing Charity, with more than £5,600 raised on the night.
After the Awards presentation, guests captured the fun spirit of the evening in the on-site photobooth Mini, and then took to the dance floor as live band Funky Buddha played the night out.
“The range of work submitted for this year’s Awards demonstrated a true understanding of the power of print,” Danielli added. “Well done to everyone who was shortlisted across some incredibly tough categories. And huge congratulations to all our winners.”