More than 400 people gathered at Dapto Leagues Club to hear Luke Byrne, of Shellharbour City Dental, named business person of the year and McGrath Kiama and Berry as business of the year.

McGrath office manager Angela Bennett said the real estate agency was one business with two offices covering Kiama and Berry.

Dr Byrne said Shellharbour City Dental entered the Best Health Improvement Service Award category last year and was delighted to win that.

To follow that up by receiving the Business Person of the Year Award was an absolute honour.

"I'm so grateful to our patients and staff for helping us make our business such a success," he said.

"We built the practice three years ago in line with the redevelopment of the Stockland Shellharbour Shopping Centre and opened the doors mid year 2012. We really have tried very hard from the start to build our business and create a practice we can be proud of and most importantly one our patients feel comfortable and confident attending. Many of our patients have made comment of what a positive experience they have had with us and our fantastic staff. We have had a great response from the Shellharbour community and have seen fantastic growth of our patient base over the last three years.

"We have added two further treatment rooms from when we started out and our staff has grown from just my wife and I with one dental assistant when we first set up to our current staff of ten with three clinicians and seven dental assistants. Our main goal is to continue providing top quality dental services in a relaxed, comfortable and friendly environment. Our patients are what keep our practice alive and we just hope to exceed our customers' expectations of what a visit to the dentist can be. I think we have cultured a very happy and supportive environment for both our patients and staff. It is very important to us that we maintain this as happy staff give our patients an enjoyable experience."

Managing director Steve Loe said the local business awards recognised the role business people play in improving the lives of local communities.

The winners:

■ Automotive Services 1st Choice Mechanical Repairs (Wollongong)

■ Bakery/Cake Shop Cake Biz (Shellharbour and Corrimal)

■ Beauty Services Laser Clinics Australia (Shellharbour)

■ Cafe Franks ’n Beans (Corrimal East)

■ Child Care Services The Grove Academy (Albion Park)

■ Education Service Wollongong First Aid (North Wollongong)

■ Fast Food/Takeaway Delicious Delights (Albion Park)

■ Fitness Services Fernwood Women’s Health Club (Shellharbour)

■ Fresh Food Bulli Meat And Seafood Fresh (Bulli)

■ Florist Bunches (Bulli and Wollongong)

■ Fruit & Vegetable Shop Bulli Fruit & Deli (Bulli)

■ Hairdresser Central Hair and Beauty (Oak Flats)

■ Health Improvement Services Wollongong Medical Specialists (Wollongong)

■ Jewellery Store Simon’s Jewellery (Wollongong)

■ New Business Cradle Cribs & Kids (Dapto)

■ Pet Care Cannon & Ball Veterinary Surgeons (Wollongong)

■ Pharmacy Blooms The Chemist (Shellharbour) 

■ Professional Services Somerset Risk Management (North Wollongong)

■ Real Estate Agency McGrath Kiama & Berry (Kiama)

■ Restaurant Samuel’s (Thirroul) 

■ Service & Trade Bohmers Tree Care (Woonona)

■ Specialised Business Need a Feed (Bulli)

■ Specialised Retail Business DVD World (Warrawong)

■ Women’s Fashion Store Black Pepper (Shellharbour)

■ Youth Award Flawless Makeup & Flawless Makeup Academy (Blackbutt)

■ Business Person of the Year Luke Byrne of Shellharbour City Dental (Shellharbour) 

■ Business of the Year McGrath Kiama & Berry (Kiama)