UPMARKET swimming pool and spa specialist Barr + Wray has been named Glasgow's most outstanding business.

The company picked up the prize at the Glasgow Business Awards last night and was also a joint winner of the international trade prize, along with privately owned drinks giant William Grant & Son.

Entrepreneur Vera Weisfeld, who set up high-street chain What Everyone Wants with husband Gerald, was given a lifetime achievement award during the ceremony at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow.

Building contractor AC Whyte & Co was named family business of the year while MB Aerospace won the category for the best performing business with more than 51 employees. Graphic design agency MadeBrave triumphed in the one to 10 staff category with telecoms supplier Ligo getting the award for businesses with 11 to 50 employees.

Other winners at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce event were Law at Work, Glasgow Credit Union, M Squared Lasers, Barrhead Travel, Plan Bee, City Legacy, Clyde Travel Management, and GHA, part of the Wheatley Group. Dr Vicki Fiddes, who runs her own podiatry business across a number of locations, was named young business person of the year.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "This year we had a record number of entries, which was no surprise as these awards are continually a major success, and that is down to the diversity and strength of Glasgow's business community.

"I would like to congratulate all our winners this year, in particular our 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Vera Weisfeld, who has made a massive contribution to the retail sector and, perhaps most importantly, has used the Weisfeld Foundation to put something back into the communities that supported her business."