Ethical Investor of the Year: Ahmad Tea (Sponsored by Paris Smith)


Begun in 1986, the family business of Ahmad Tea (Solent 250 No 122), has grown steadily through its commitment to selling the finest teas for ’an enjoyable, memorable and satisfying tea-drinking experience.’ Ahmad Tea, based in Chandlers Ford, now exports to more than 70 countries on six continents. “It wasn’t just the growing turnover and management skills of this family-run company that brought it to our attention, but its contribution and mission to putting back into communities a lot of that turnover and profit that it takes out,“ explained Paris Smith managing partner Andrew Heathcock. Ahmad Tea regularly donates to charitable organisations in Britain and specific emergencies worldwide, while maintaining its sponsorship of orphanages in Mali, Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.


Paris Smith managing partner Andrew Heathcock (left) and Dr Ali Afshar of Ahmad Tea


Best ’Breakthrough’ Business: New Earth Solutions Group (Sponsored by Santander Corporate Banking)


Santander regional director Alex Fuller (left) and Stephen Bates of New Earth Solutions Group


New Earth Solutions (Solent 250 No 108) is based in Verwood and employs over 160 people at five UK facilities. New Earth has positioned itself to benefit from the increased need to divert waste from landfill and use more sustainable waste treatment methods. “It doubled in size last year and has tripled in size over the past two years and is a hugely topical and relevant company providing waste treatment and renewable energy services,“ said Santander regional director Alex Fuller.


• The Santander Breakthrough programme aims to help Britain’s fastest growing SMEs with funding and financial advice, meetings with leading entrepreneurs, and visits to successful companies.


Exporter Award: R&M Electrical Group (Sponsored by Grant Thornton)


Grant Thornton tax director Kerry McKeown (left) and Brian Robinson of R&M Electrical Group


International Business Growth: Lakesmere (Sponsored by Grant Thornton)


Winchester-based Lakesmere (Solent 250 No 69) is widely regarded as a leading roofing and cladding specialist the UK (it helped build the Olympic Aquatic Centre) but it also has four offices in the Middle East, having established its International Division in 2009. Lakesmere is now well placed to undertake contracts across the whole of the Middle East, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states, North Africa and other emerging markets. “The big difference over the past few years is that despite having a vast pipeline of work in the UK, they have invested time in seeking out new opportunities overseas,“ said Grant Thornton partner Norman Armstrong.


Sustained Growth: Kondor (Sponsored by The Business Magazine)


David Murray, managing editor & publisher of The Business Magazine (left), and Malcolm Bartlett of Kondor


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – DECEMBER 12/JANUARY 13


Consumer electronics accessory specialist Kondor (Solent 250 No 49) employs 120 people in its 60,000 sq ft premises at Christchurch Business Park. It is a former Dorset Business Awards ’Company of the Year’ and has maintained high standards while growing its annual turnover from £36.5 million in 2009 to £41.8m to in excess of £52.3m. Kondor provides a one-stop shop of services from product creation to retail sales-point (either instore or online) for its B2B customers throughout the UK, many of them major high-street names. It processes hundreds of thousands of accessories every month – from headphones to handsets, batteries to Bluetooth connectors, chargers to car kits – and distributes them purchase-ready packed complete with point-of-sale materials.


www.businessmag.co.uk


Formed in 1987, Sholing-based R&M Electrical (Solent 250 No 37) is one of the UK’s largest independent electrical distributors, exporting products and services to nearly 60 countries worldwide. Alongside its specialist UK branches and divisions, R&M established international operations in 1996 and began to gain internationally significant contracts and projects. It now has overseas branches in the Caspian and Middle East regions (offices in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Dubai), supplying industry sectors including oil, gas, petrochemical, and marine.


Grant Thornton partner Norman Armstrong (left) and Ed McKenzie of Lakesmere


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