AN estate agent has been crowned Sussex Businessperson of the Year.

Tracy Smith, of Crawley-based Homes Partnership, won the award in the Sussex Business Awards during a ceremony at The Grand hotel in Brighton, when 500 of the county’s leading business people gathered to celebrate business excellence.

Comedian Simon Evans, who lives in Hove, presented the awards in 16 categories, while Mike Herd, chairman of the judges, described the quality of entries as “hugely impressive”.

Tracy was one of three women nominated for the award alongside Mandy Brook of Recruitment South East Limited and Anne O’ Rourke of Caremark Ltd.

Caraline Brown, MD of the Sussex Business Awards’ organisers Midnight Communications, said: “We’ve long suspected that women make the best business people and our finalists at the 2014 Sussex Business Awards certainly go some way to showing that.

“As a female boss myself, I was very proud to have an all-female shortlist in the Best Businessperson category.

“The night was truly a success for all and there was definitely an air of girl power.”