James Cowper Kreston SME of the Year Award


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Celebrating the very best small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). Judges were looking for strong business performance, growth potential, innovation, and great business practices.


Winner: The NAV People


Based at Burghclere, near Newbury, the company expertly provides support, services, training and enhancements for users of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, an enterprise resource planning system that assists companywide business processes. While aiming to be ‘what everyone should expect from a partner in business’, this company believes fairness is the key to good business, and profit should be the end result of successful relationships, rather than a goal.


Deciding factors for the judges


Presenting the award, Robert Holland, managing partner of James Cowper Kreston, revealed: “Once again a hotly contested category, the judges were hugely impressed with the quality of finalists. Any of this year’s finalists would be worthy recipients of the award. What distinguishes our winner is excellence in product innovation and customer service.”


Reaction from the winner


“For us, as a Thames Valley company, to be recognised like this in our core space, this highly competitive market – the Silicon Valley of the UK – is really fantastic,” said Matt Dredge, marketing and sales director, The NAV People.


What’s your winning secret? “Finding the right people to fit in with our culture. We don’t wear suits, we allow people to dictate their own worklife balance, and the way they work in our business environment.”


So, you engage your people in an enjoyable job? “Absolutely.”


In second place was . . . Primal Pantry – Nutritionist Suzie Walker saw a market gap for tasty and healthy ‘real food’ snack bars. Armed with a blender and some ingredients, she created her first paleo-lifestyle bars in her Maidenhead kitchen. Her daughter liked them. The Primal Pantry was born.


. . . and third-placed


Loxone UK – Theale-based Loxone has already completely integrated 40,000 smart-homes to run by ‘autopilot’, with its Miniserver independently controlling aspects such as lighting, heating and security.


Highly Commended finalists


Creative Nature – A West Molesey business pushing the boundaries of the ‘food-to-go’ and non-allergic ‘free-from’ sectors by creating truly healthy, yet immensely tasty snacks and baking mixes.


Gekko Field Marketing – For the past 14 years, Newbury-based Gekko, an IIP, ISO and IPM accredited group of agencies, has worked with amazing global brands in the technology and leisure sectors across the UK and Ireland.


Porterhouse Medical – A Reading medical communications agency working with pharmaceutical companies to educate healthcare professionals about new therapies.


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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER 16/JANUARY 17


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