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Companyof the Year sponsored by KPMG


Sponsored by KPMG South Coast, this award was open to successful Solent companies with a turnover above £10 million. The winner needed to display the ability to think strategically, keep abreast of new developments in its own industry and the wider economy, and illustrate plans for future growth.


David Murray had introduced the evening as celebrating “the cream of Solent companies” so, with cream always rising to the top, it was no surprise to see some familiar names among the finalists for this prestigious and much-prized award title.


The six contenders were: CLC Group, CV- Library, Organix Brands, Pennyfarthing Homes, R&M Electrical Group and SHB Hire.


Will Smith, office senior partner at Southampton for KPMG, made the all- important announcements.


In third place was CLC Group. Established in 1969 as a Southampton-based painting contractor, CLC has grown to successfully deliver multi-skilled property and asset maintenance services within a wide variety of sectors throughout the country. Peter Armitage, executive chairman, received CLC’s award.


Second was CV-Library a major UK online job site attracting over 3.5 million unique job seekers every month and holding the UK’s largest database of 9.2 million CVs, itself growing at a rate of 190,000 a month. Matthew Moore, the company’s finance director, was its award recipient.


Finally, amid the music and applause, a hush fell as Will Smith revealed that R&M Electrical Group was the 2015 winner.


The judges were highly impressed by “this company’s overseas success with operations in seven countries and growth of 17%. Their entrepreneurial spirit comes across strongly in the entry and in all that they do with a hugely loyal local workforce in which 58% have been in the business for over 10 years. Our winner is a fantastic advert for the Solent region across the globe.”


R&M is one of the largest independently- owned cable and electrical suppliers in the UK. It supplies electrical products and services both nationally and internationally to the oil, gas, petrochemical, industrial, marine, pharmaceutical and commercial sectors.


Group managing director William Crook explained afterwards what the prized SBA title meant to R&M Electrical: “We are really proud to be a Solent company. Our roots are here, our people come from here, and we have plenty of aspiration. I joined the company 23 years ago and then Ringwood seemed a long way off, but today we have new ventures opening up all around, which is very exciting. Internationally this award will give us greater accreditation. There are great times ahead for us.”


“We are having our best year ever. This will be a record-breaker for us,” Crook added.”


“We are a Hampshire firm with global aspirations, and a great track record of staff retention, nurturing our people and providing


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – NOVEMBER 2015


Left: Andrew Chandler (left); William Crook and Tim Coomer (right) of R&M Electrical Group takes the winner's spotlight


Top: CV Library receives the certificate for second place


Above: Will Smith of sponsor KPMG (left) with CLC Group in third


global opportunities – we’ve had managers who started in Southampton working in the Middle East, Australia, or the Far East, for example.”


RM has grown staffing organically. “It’s all inhouse, we train our own people, take on apprentices, college and university graduates etc – it’s about recognising talent and improving different skillsets.”


Highly Commended certificates and bottles of champagne went to Bournemouth-based Organix Brands, whose healthy nutritious baby and toddler food is sold in major high-street shops such as Waitrose and Sainsbury’s; New Milton-headquartered Pennyfarthing Homes, one of the largest privately-owned luxury home developers in the New Forest and surrounding Hampshire and Dorset areas; and SHB Hire, the Romsey-based family owned and operated vehicle hire and management company.


www.businessmag.co.uk


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