BUSINESS MANAGEMENT THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND


SPONSORED BY


Winner: Softcat


Some of the biggest cheers of the night came as Marlow-based Softcat was announced as the winner of the Business Management Team Award, sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland.


In the first of two visits to the stage, Softcat’s finance director Bill Kenny (pictured holding the winner's certificate) led his delighted team to collect the award from Hilary Devey and Robin Barnes, RBS regional director Thames Valley and Solent.


The trophy marked a terrific result for the company, a leading provider of software licensing, hardware, security and related IT services, which employs some 500 people.


This year it achieved a coveted place in the UK’s Best Workplaces list and scooped the award for Sustained Growth in the annual Thames Valley 250. In 2010 Softcat also came first in the Sunday Times’ Best Small Companies to Work For.


It has achieved


record-breaking customer satisfaction results and has excellent staff retention.


For this award, the judges were looking for the management team which had shown great leadership and teambuilding skills, combined with an innovative, creative and forward-thinking approach.


Softcat’s winning entry showed how the management team used the economic downturn as a springboard to aggressively attack the market, investing and recruiting an additional 400 people in order to increase


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER 12/JANUARY 13


market share. The policy paid off as, over the past three years, the company has doubled its profits and turnover.


Softcat’s managing director, Martin Hellawell, who takes personal charge of customer service and sits with the team in an open- plan office with his fellow directors, said: “I am so thrilled to see the Softcat management team recognised in this way. The majority of the team have been with us for more years than they would care to remember. In the past five years they have been absolutely key in driving employee and customer satisfaction to unprecedented levels and this has really been the sole cause for more than tripling turnover, profit and headcount in this period.


“They are a very committed bunch of individuals who care passionately about what they do and about the company they work for. The success of the company hasn’t gone to their heads and they remain humble, hard- working and just great fun to work with. The award is an excellent way for the company to say a very warm thank you and well done to them.”


Robin Barnes said: “RBS would like to congratulate the management team of Softcat for being the winner of this year’s award. The judges were highly impressed with the qualities of their leadership and expertise in delivering outstanding performance in what is clearly a challenging economic environment. During the past two


years, Softcat has more than doubled both its turnover and staff numbers in what is a highly competitive sector. Not only this, but they have demonstrated superior achievements in a number of specific areas such as customer and staff satisfaction, which is evidently at the very heart of everything they do.


“We would also like to congratulate and thank all our finalists for the quality of their entries in what was again an incredibly close run decision, speaking volumes for the importance of businesses here in the Thames Valley.”


Six companies had been shortlisted for the award and edging into second place was CH&Co, parent group to well-known catering brands including Charlton House and Chester Boyd. Third place went to The Racecourse Newbury, which is embarking on a major redevelopment to substantially improve infrastructure and facilities.


Highly commended were Allmakes 4x4 from Milton Park, Abingdon, worldwide supplier of parts and accessories for Land Rover vehicles; home baking experts Fiddes Payne from Banbury; and leading torque tools specialist Norbar Torque Tools.


TEAM AWARD


www.businessmag.co.uk


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