TWO Mauchline businessmen came up trumps at the Ayrshire business awards.

The partners behind an opticians scooped the gong for Ayrshire's best performing small business.

Alistair Duff and Peter Telfer are two partners at Urquhart Opticians, based in Kilmarnock.

The duo took top prize in the Outstanding Performing Business, of businesses with under 50 employee, category at last week’s glittering award ceremony held at the Seamill Hydro.

The annual Ayrshire Chamber event, which was attended by 350 of Ayrshire’s top business people, was hosted by television’s Jackie Brambles and sponsored by Munro Partnership.

Recognising a combination of growth, leadership and customer experience, the Ayrshire Business Award comes as Urquhart celebrates their 100th anniversary and reflects the remarkable turnaround experienced by the business in the past two years.

In late 2014, entrepreneur Peter Telfer and optometrist Alistair Duff took the helm at the Urquhart Opticians, and have since invested a six figure sum in transforming the group’s four practices.

Having recently remodelled their flagship Kilmarnock practice, the young entrepreneurs now have their sights set on upgrading their Prestwick, Troon and Glasgow practices, with one eye also on growing their team and potential acquisitions.

“We are thrilled to be named Outstanding Business of the Year, and to have been shortlisted also as Independent Retailer of the Year,” said Alistair Duff.

“To be recognised by our peers here in Ayrshire is such an honour, and it is a great reflection of the dedication, hard work and vision of everyone who has supported all of the team in developing and achieving our ambitions for Urquharts.”

Peter Telfer added: “Winning an Ayrshire Business Award in Urquhart Opticians’ centenary year is the icing on what was already a very special birthday cake. I’d like to thank all of our colleagues and our clients for their support over the past couple of years and to the Ayrshire Chamber, the award sponsors and the judges for this fantastic recognition. We are very honoured to carry the name of Urquhart Opticians, and are fiercely proud of the heritage and of our position as independent practitioners in a market dominated by multiples.

“We’re also very proud to be one of two Kilmarnock businesses recognised at the Ayrshire Business Awards after our fellow Kilmarnock Business Association member, Craig Hume of Utopia Computers, won Entrepreneur of the Year. It’s a great reflection of the ambition, vision and success of local, Kilmarnock businesses.”