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.”
Small Business of the Year Award- NBC Bird & Pest Solutions Ltd
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.
Retail and Hospitality Award - Macknade Fine Foods
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.
Customer Service & Commitment award – O'Connells Drywall Contractors Ltd
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.
Business of the Year Runner-Up – Ecologia Environmental Ltd
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 landremediation technologies, which makes ground that has been contaminated by a range of polluting substances safe to use.
Business of the Year Award – Carousel Logistics Ltd
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 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