Event celebrates the region‘s top independent businesses


The Business Magazine welcomed more than 75 guests to a Solent 250 summer networking reception, featuring early evening drinks, canapés and jazz on the MS Princess Caroline, berthed at Ocean Village in Southampton


Above and right: Sponsor Grant Thornton‘s Norman Armstrong welcomes the guests


Left: Sarah Wheadon of sponsor Paris Smith and Guy Blackburn of Growth Accelerator


Welcoming business representatives from a range of sectors which are represented across the list, covering everything from technology to higher education, in the absence of The Business Magazine‘s publisher David Murray, who was indisposed, Norman Armstrong, partner at Grant Thornton‘s Southampton office, said: “On behalf of the three sponsors, Grant Thornton, Paris Smith and Santander, I‘d like to welcome you all.


“We are now three years into the Solent 250 programme. It was launched as an initiative to raise the profile of the largest, independently-owned and privately-operated businesses in the Solent region, and through case studies, profiles, awards and events such as this, it has proved highly successful.


“This region features great diversity in its businesses combined with the strength of the Solent economy. The 250 focuses on the middle ground, perhaps the ‘unsung heroes‘, the unheralded and unsung sector compared with SMEs and the listed giants of the business world.


“However, data clearly demonstrates that it is these companies which grow faster, employ more people and export more goods. UKTI and other organisations are therefore increasingly focusing on these middle-ground companies, and, looking forward, we expect them to do so even more.“


Above: Business representatives


from the Solent 250 Right: Mike


Donaldson of sponsor Santander


With a perfect summer evening to enjoy both the setting and event, the three Solent 250 sponsors commented that through their ongoing involvement they are available to help companies throughout the listings, by sharing their knowledge, providing business and advice and finding solutions.


The Solent 250 listings have become an eagerly-awaited event for companies in the south. The fourth list will be compiled in the summer and published in the autumn. Quoted companies are excluded as are those that list a registered office in the region but do not trade from that address. The Solent region comprises most of Hampshire (south of Basingstoke) as well as parts of Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JULY/AUGUST 2013 www.businessmag.co.uk


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