Dartford and Gravesham award winners

Growing your business was the aptly themed backdrop designed by sponsor John Lewis Bluewater for this year's gala night held at the Hilton, Dartford Bridg
So strong were the entrants, It was a tough call for the judges selecting the finalists who they visited personally.

Chairman of the judges Matt Kear said: "All the judges agreed that the finalists showed a huge amount of passion and commitment towards their businesses and we could have quite easily spent longer with each and every one of them.
"With such a wide range of businesses and using the same set of questions for each, we considered a variety of different factors, such as:

• Business performance/Planning
• Market share/Knowledge -
• High levels of customer satisfaction -
• The production or delivery of high quality products or services
• Staffing policies and procedures
• Corporate Social Responsibility

"Each borough should be proud of the diversity of business and this year I think our task has been even more difficult given the current economic climate, with predictions of a longer period of recovery."

This year the judges felt it important to recognise the effort one company has made in making a success of bucking the recessional trend. The special best small business award plus a cheque for £250 presented by Ian Webb of Lloyds's TSB went to Higham-based engineering firm Winter and Smith (Electronics) Ltd.

The overall Gravesham winner Allpark Ltd was presented with a cheque for £500 by Kamal Aggarwal of Thomson, Snell and Passmore The firm manufactures and designs car park equipment, civil works and on-line retailing for the traffic industry.

Dartford winner Quay Assessment Ltd is the local leading care sector trainer and awarded a Grade 2 by Oftsted. A cheque for £500 and trophy was presented by Professor Alan Reed of the University of Greenwich

Building contractors specialising in Insurance work Benning Brothers Ltd was the overall winner taking home a cheque for £1000 presented by Marion Cientannni of Barnes Roffe..

Homeless charity of the evening, House of Mercy received a cheque for £549.

Other finalists included: Internal Audit Ltd, Mitchell's Carpets, Clark Marshall Associates, Hodgson's Pharmacy, Mitchell's Carpets, Sharp Printing Solutions Ltd and Write Trak.