Latest News
October 2011
(Pictured: The finalists for the 2011 Swale Business Awards with the Mayor and Mayoress of Swale)
After months of anticipation, the 2011 Swale Business Awards took place of Friday 7th October in The Marquee at The Barnyard in Upchurch.
Competition amongst the entrants was extremely fierce, leaving the judges with a difficult job on their hands. There was much deliberation before the 12 finalists were eventually selected. Paul Price, Partner of IMM-UK and chairman of the judges remarked, “It was incredible to see so many strong businesses operating throughout Swale, but it did make the job of judging the awards very tough. In the end we just had to be ruthless with our marking, so the finalists were the businesses that really stood out to us.”
The Small Business of the Year award went to NBC Bird & Pest Solutions Ltd, who specialise in using environmentally friendly methods of controlling unwanted birds and pests. One example of this is their trained falcon, which scares off unwanted birds without killing them. Based on the Isle of Sheppey, they currently have 2 employees.
Macknade Fine Foods won the Retail and Hospitality award. With 33 employees working out of their offices in Faversham, they wholesale fine food and drink to local and international customers, including pubs, restaurants and caterers. Ingrained in the local community, they have been operating for 32 years.
The Customer Service and Commitment award went to O’Connell’s Drywall Contractors Ltd, providers of plastering and drylining services to the building trade. Founded in 1978, this Sittingbourne based company is deeply committed to employee development and employs 8 members of staff, three-quarters of whom live in Swale.
The runner-up for the Swale Business of the Year 2011 award was Ecologia Environmental Ltd. 43 of their 58 employees work in the Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne, where they develop and implement unique, high-tech land remediation technologies, which makes ground that has been contaminated by a range of polluting substances safe to use.
Carousel Logistics Ltd were the overall winners of the Swale Business of the Year 2011 award. Established in 1985 they design, implement and manage integrated logistics solutions for large organisations that require distribution or warehousing. Working out of Sittingbourne, they currently employ 61 members of staff and have been operating since 1985. Last year saw their business increase by 27%.
Over 150 people attended the Gala Awards Dinner. The guests enjoyed drinks on arrival, followed by a sumptuous three-course meal prior to the winners being announced. Dancing and further celebrations were had by all until it was the time to leave.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Swale were in attendance; presenting framed certificates to all the finalists and later in the evening receiving a cheque for £2000 to be donated to his chosen charities. The funds were generously donated by the guests during the evening with a raffle being held and Graham Martin, the Managing Director of Carousel Logistics donating his £1,000 winner’s cheque, bringing the total amount raised to £2,000.
The evening was a huge success and next year’s event is sure to be even better. Keep checking back for more information on the 2012 Swale Business Awards as it becomes available.
The 2011 Swale Business Awards were sponsored by: Kent Science Park, UHY Hacker Young, Thomson Snell & Passmore, Kent Regional News and Media, Swale Borough Council, McLaughlin Hook, University of Greenwich at Medway, HSBC – The World’s Local Bank, McNealy Brown, IMM-UK, Shepherd Neame, Swale Heating Ltd.
If you would like to be a sponsor of the Swale Business Awards 2012, please contact Liz Jordan or Paul Price.
Jan 2011
We are delighted to announce that Shepherd Neame and Swale Heating have agreed to sponsor the 2011 Swale Business Awards. Our fifth year looks like it will be better than ever.
Pictured: 2010 Winners
Best in Swale business
In a tough contest with record entry levels, Swale's best businesses were announced at a spectacular harvest themed gala evening at Kent Science Park's, The Woodstock Club based in Sittingbourne. The awards, now in their fifth year, have become a landmark of local business excellence with companies entering from every sector. Three of the winning firms were from the Eurolink Estate based in the heart of Sittingbourne. Awards chair of judges, Paul Price said the 2010 entries were of very high quality and competition was fierce.
Swale Exporter of the Year was won by family business Creative Resins Distribution Limited. The company Runner Up of the Swale Business of the Year went to expanding aircraft and car model distributer- Century UK Limited. The company distributed the whole range of CENTURY products ranging from the Hummingbird through to the Predator. They also distribute many well known model producers through local shops.
Swale mayor Cllr. Stephen Worrall also accepted a cheque for £684 for the charity for the evening, Demelza Hospice Care for Children. Other finalists included: Blenwood Ground Maintenance Ltd, CS One Designers Ltd, Julie Gamble Skincare, Phil the Bag, Plantworks, Reardon Properties, Summit Retail and The Pet Shop The Swale Business Awards are sponsored by: UHY Hacker Young, McLaughlin Hook, Kent Science Park, The University of Greenwich, Thames Gateway (Kent) Chamber of Commerce, East Kent Gazette, Thomson, Snell & Passmore, Swale Borough Council, Go Response, McNealy Brown and HSBC. Strong show this year
Awards judge and lawyer Joanne Gallagher said:" "The range of different businesses entering this year's Swale Business Awards was diverse and interesting. "Many applications demonstrated that despite the immense difficulties of recent years with the economic climate it is possible for well run, focused business to grow and prosper in such times. I believe that many of those businesses are well positioned to continue to thrive and prosper as economy activity slowly improves. "This year's finalists were really impressive, despite the challenges that they had faced. Overcoming those difficulties is a legitimate part of their business success and an inspiration to others." The sponsors too have been delighted with the outcome and director Steve McLaughlin said:" My firm McLaughlin Hook has been once again to sponsor the Swale Business Awards and it is wonderful to see the number of applications we received, given the recent economic climate. Well done." The 12 finalists are:Blenwood Ground Maintenance Brittain & Hobbs Century UK Ltd Creative Resins Distributions Ltd. CS One Designers Eurobond Adhesives Limited Julie Gamble Skincare Centre Phil the Bag Plantworks Ltd. Reardon Properties Summit Retail Display Ltd The Pet Shop Waiting for the judgesThe deadline's past, the awards are now closed and it's now up to the judges to pour through the entries and this year the numbers have been overwhelming. The companies that entered are very diverse and Swale has shown what business is really about, hardworking, skilled, highly competitive and ambitious. When the deliberations are complete the finalists' names will appear in this section. The winners will have to wait until the gala night on 1 October 2010. 2010 Awards are now launched
Sponsors at the launch
This year has seen three new sponsors join the awards. These are local firms McNealy Brown and last year's winner GoResponse Ltd as well as HSBC. It's a great chance to give your business a great profile, to become a winner and it is surprising just how far your name goes when you're in the top frame. People remember you years down the line as other winners will testify. So make it your year to be Swale's best business and enter the awards now. The earlier the entry the better chance of a full profile in the East Kent Gazette. |
Early entries come inBarely days since our launch, the entries have started to come in and will appear soon in the East Kent Gazetter. Early birds will benefit by having their businesses profiled in the East Kent Gazette without newspaper space restrictions. Leave it late and it could be reduced. So get cracking and fill that form in. It's easy online but you can always get a paper version from our contact address |
|
|
Retailer of the Year went to Brittain & Hobbs TV & Electrical Limited. based in Roman Square, Sittingbourne. Established in 1972, the family run firm sells a large range of appliances from washing machines, fridges and cookers to numerous smaller items.
has clients all over the world including the top airlines and wealthy yacht owners who use its resin products.
The top winner of Swale Business of the Year went to Eurobond Adhesives Limited, which has been supplying high tech adhesives to industry throughout Europe since 1984.
There has been a strong show of very good companies this year as entry numbers doubled that of last year.
