The Boston Standard was named top title in Johnston Press at their company’s inaugural group-wide awards.

The regional publisher decided to revive its company awards scheme last year after several years in abeyance with the event held at Peterborough’s Marriott Hotel last Thursday.

Thirty-eight glass trophies were handed out at the ceremony which was attended by around 120 people.

Other big winners included the West Yorkshire division which was named Publishing Unit of the Year while the Edinburgh Evening News was named Best Daily Title.

Boston Standard staff celebrate their win - from left, Richard Parkinson, managing director for JP Midlands, David Dawson, photographer, Andrew Brookes, deputy editor, Stephen Stray, editor, and Ashley Highfield, chief executive of Johnston Press.

Chief executive Ashley Highfield and group commercial and marketing director Neil Jones presented the awards and bottles of champagne.

Said Ashley said:  “I was delighted with the whole evening and it was a real pleasure to be able to recognise all the great performances that are helping to drive us forward as a company. Congratulations to all our winners – and runners-up.”

Boston Standard editor Stephen Stray said:  “I’m delighted for everyone associated with the Boston Standard and immensely proud of the team.

“The nominees were of an extremely calibre and I’m thrilled we’ve been held in such high regard. I’d also like to thank our readers and advertisers for their continued support across all of our platforms.”

Also among the winners was the Scarborough News which won the prize for Best Daily to Weekly following its frequency change last year.

Recent ABC figures showed the News is now selling an average 14,806 copies compared to 9,914 in its last audited period as a daily.

The full list of winners was as follows:

Johnston Press Title of the Year (chosen from Title of Year categories): Boston Standard

Publishing Unit of the Year: West Yorkshire.  Award sponsored by SGP.

Chief Executive Award (three recipients): Karen Prescott, North West sales administration manager, Catherine Grimwood, North West marketing manager, Claire Jones, administrator, Portsmouth Web.  Award sponsored by Sun Chemicals.

Title of the Year – Daily: Edinburgh Evening News

Title of the Year – Large Weekly: Falkirk Herald

Title of the Year – Small Weekly: Boston Standard

Title of the Year – Daily to Weekly: Scarborough News

Title of the Year – Relaunch: Northumberland Gazette

Innovation: West Yorkshire Executive & Business Team

Community Initiative (joint winners): Stephanie Steward, Northampton Chronicle & Echo, Northeast Events Team

Best Use of Social Media: Steve Petch, Driffield Times & Post

Best Use of Digital Platforms: Boston Standard

Trainee Journalist of the Year: Dominic Shaw, Hartlepool Mail

Journalist of the Year: Dan Sanderson, Edinburgh Evening News

Sports Journalist of the Year: Richard Fidler, The Star, Sheffield

Photographer of the Year: Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman

Story of the Year in Print & Digital: Gina Davidson, Edinburgh Evening News

Campaign of the Year in Print & Digital:  Wakefield Express

Editorial Design Award: Gary Cranmer-Bills, The Star, Sheffield

JP Environmental Award – Group Services Division Logistics

Best Sales Agent: Chris Greenfield, East Midlands

Best Sales Agent – Recruitment: Ben Farina, Sheffield Contact Centre

Best Sales Team Leader: Colin Bowden, JP Digital field sales recruitment

Sales Team of the Year (Property): Sussex North Property Team

Sales Team of the Year (Motors): West Yorkshire Motors Team

Sales Team of the Year (Local Display & Features) and overall Best Sales Team: East Sussex Display

Best Publishing Unit Sales Team: North West Advertising Team

Best Sales Team for Digital Growth: Northeast Digital Team

Voucher Subscriptions Team of the Year:  Weekly – Wilfred Edmunds Newspaper Sales Team, Daily – Scotland Newspaper Sales & Marketing Team

Retail Sales Team of the Year: Weekly – Halifax Retail Sales Team, Daily – Leeds Retail Sales Team

Sales Team of the Year:  Weekly – North & East Yorkshire Sales Team, Daily – West Yorkshire Newspaper Sales Team

Newspaper Sales Central Unit Sales Person of the Year: Laura Pace