IT WAS a night of glitz and glamour as the Southern Daily Echo and LOCALiQ celebrated the very best in business in the Southampton area.

Trophies were given out in 10 categories before the overall Business of the Year title went to Highfield Professional Solutions of Durley.

READ MORE: Full list of South Coast Business Awards winners

Here we share more than 200 photos for the evening on Thursday.

The awards were held by LOCALiQ, the digital marketing business of Daily Echo publisher Newsquest. They were sponsored by Starling Bank, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Utilita, the University of Southampton and GetSet Solent, and were open to any company based in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight.

The event was held at Southampton Football Club's St Mary's Stadium, with guests including Hampshire deputy lord lieutenant Simon Tufnell, Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith, Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead, Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes and Southampton City Council leader Satvir Kaur.