Kent Excellence in Business Awards 2009
Video: businesses
celebrate success at KEiBA 2009
Enterprises and individuals across
the county are celebrating glory in the first-ever Kent Excellence
in Business Awards.
On a glittering night in the
elegant setting of Leeds Castle, nine organisations and three
entrepreneurs stepped up to receive a handsome glass trophy crafted
by Maidstone artist Annie Ross.
The inaugural awards, jointly run
by Kent County Council and KM Group, attracted 500 guests to the
county’s business night of the year.
Around 200 enterprises entered the
awards, with 33 finalists representing the cream of Kent business
competing for the prizes.
This was the declaration
of media entrepreneur Geoff Miles after being honoured for his
outstanding contribution to the county's business community.
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A selection of pictures from a
glittering night at Leeds Castle, including all the winners.
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Kent Excellence in Business Awards
2009
Winners
LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by Deloitte)
Denne Construction, Sittingbourne
A building firm established in 1803 by George
Henry Denne is playing a key role in the county’s business and
community life 200 years on.
Denne Construction, which became part of the
Dutch-owned Leadbitter Group in 2006, is resolutely Kentish,
investing time, money and effort into the local community.
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SME BUSINESS OF THE YEAR -
(sponsored by Royal Mail)
English Wines Group, Tenterden
English Wines Group has enjoyed a sparkling
rise in sales and reputation over the past few years.
It has captured a 40 per cent market-leading
share in English wines with its range of sparklers, rose, whites
and reds marketed with the Chapel Down label.
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BEST BUSINESS FROM CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES (sponsored by Kent Film Office)
Courtyard Studios, Hollingbourne
This small film studio focuses on punching
above its weight.
It has a wide portfolio of services and is a
great example of the wealth of creative and media talent in the
county.
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BEST LEISURE AND TOURISM BUSINESS
(sponsored by VisitKent)
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
On the 25th anniversary of the
closure of the Royal Navy dockyard, there could hardly be a more
appropriate winner than this leading maritime attraction that has
emerged so impressively from the dark days of disappointment.
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BUSINESS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY (sponsored by
GSE Group)
Cripps Harries Hall LLP, Tunbridge Wells
“Top to bottom buy-in from employees” is how
judges summed up the winner’s credentials.
This law firm has warmly embraced community
involvement (CIP) and corporate social responsibility (CSR),
combining both with strong environmental policies.
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more...
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Southeastern)
Holiday Extras, Newingreen, Hythe
A great all-round performance landed this
prize for a made-in-Kent success story.
Who can argue with the 900-strong workforce
who voted Holiday Extras into The Sunday Times Best 100 Employer
List an impressive four times.
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BEST SOCIAL CARE BUSINESS (sponsored by Kent Adult
Social Services, Kent County Council)
Home Service Complete Care, Deal
Home Service Complete Care was founded in
1989, just before the Care in the Community Act came into force,
and now employs more than 50 people.
It has become one of Kent’s largest providers
of home care and support.
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CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMMITMENT
AWARD (sponsored by Headley Brothers)
Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI),
Aylesford.
This multi-award-winning charity, founded just
after the First World War, goes from strength to strength.
RBLI employs hundreds of people, many with a
disability or health condition, on practical manufacturing projects
and is an exemplar in the field.
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ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Heart FM and the Institute of Directors)
Gerard Coleman, Artisan du Chocolat,
Ashford
Gerard Coleman founded a business that
chocoholics adore - and a world class company here in the heart of
Kent.
High quality, innovative product development,
local sourcing and sharp commercial acumen are the main ingredients
of this flourishing multi-million pound business that combines
production with retail.
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YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE
YEAR AWARD (sponsored by Mainstream and The Kent Foundation)
Kate Austen, Podplus, Ashford.
Passionate, committed, self-taught, focused,
clarity of vision.
In those few words, the award judges sum up
the qualities that have made Kate Austen the county's Young
Entrepreneur of the Year.
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START UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Vertex Law)
Red Alert Telecare, Ashford
Providing reassuring hi-tech support to the
old and vulnerable has earned Red Alert Telecare a good reputation
among local authorities.
The company, founded in 2007, is a pioneer in
the management, installation, and maintenance of telecare,
telehealth and warden call systems.
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more...
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF KENT (sponsored by Kent County Council
and the KM Group)
Geoff Miles
Without Geoff Miles, Kent might
not be blessed
with such a flourishing media industry.
Since he and a partner raised
£4.25m to buy Maidstone Studios from Flextech some seven years ago, he has
injected money, energy
and vigour into a site that under different ownership might not
have survived as a media
beacon.
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more...