To see the all of the images from the awards visit solentbusinessawards.co.uk Company of the Year


sponsor


Winner: CV-Library Founded by Lee Biggins in 2000, this Fleet-based company operates the UK’s leading independent online job board, with over 12 million CVs.


Judges’ assessment:


“Three factors made this company a very worthy winner – consistent growth and profit margin over a multi-year period; customer satisfaction at an incredible 97%; and the company’s overseas ambitions, particularly within the US market. Very exciting times lie ahead ….”


Winner’s words:


Founder and managing director Lee Biggins commented: “Everyone at CV- Library works extremely hard and contributes massively to our success as a business, so this award is a true testament to their commitment. We are dedicated to being the UK’s leading job board and this is what drives


SME of the Year Winner: ASV Global


A 100-employee Fareham-based industry leader in autonomous and unmanned marine vessels.


Judges’ assessment:


“The very essence of a fantastic entrepreneurial SME – a second-to-none passion for business, and an ability to shape their industry’s future.” ASV’s innovative use of revolutionary technology – bringing recent growth, substantial potential, and a significant local community and economic contribution – impressed the judges.


Winner’s words:


Dan Hook, MD, put passion for technology as ASV’s key to success. “Everyone we employ is a techno-geek at heart. Our team comes to work every day to use new technology and develop it.”


“Marine robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) is booming worldwide, with the Solent area


52 businessmag.co.uk


Management Team of the Year sponsor


Winner: SB Joinery


Founded in 1989, Steve Brown’s company has grown to a 100-strong team delivering a £13m turnover. Sales doubled in the past three years.


Judges’ assessment:


our business forward. It’s a real honour to be part of an award ceremony that celebrates businesses overall in the South East and we’re absolutely delighted to have won.”


SB Joinery management was unanimously scored highly in every assessment category. Judges noted “fantastic progress in a number of areas.”


Second: Onecom Third: Aish Technologies Highly Commended: • Mildren Construction • Renaissance Retirement • SHB Hire


“They’ve invested in technology to deliver process efficiencies and product improvement; acquired and successfully integrated – operationally and culturally – a complementary business to create additional reach and capacity for growth; and harnessed external expertise to help unlock future potential.”


Impressing the judges most, company strategy was centred on staff engagement and retention.


Winner’s words


James Honor, joinery estimator/ surveyor, highlighted the management team’s pragmatic realisation that it needed new ideas and expertise to transform and support business growth. They successfully recruited suitable skilled personnel while retaining loyal and valued staff.


Second: Aish Technologies Third: Balmer Lawn Hotel Highly Commended: • Knights Brown • nDreams • Highfield Professional Solutions


sponsor


Dynamic Growth Winner: Clearvision


Software services company formed in 2005, now with Southampton (HQ), London, Ireland, Slovakia, and US offices. Five years ago turnover was £6m, now it’s £24m.


Judges’ assessment:


becoming a world-leading centre. We are probably the biggest player in this region, having kept ourselves ahead by working with local universities and recruiting well.”


The award recognition would be “brilliant” in cementing and creating local company and industry links.


Second: SB Joinery Third: The Highfield Company Highly Commended: • GRP Solutions • The Little Kitchen Company • Trimetals • Zenergi


“We were impressed by their exponential growth and profit levels. They show a clear innovative approach to expansion, particularly dynamic new products and offerings, together with a commitment to recruiting, retaining, and developing staff. This business showed a very clear, varied strategy to maintain its future growth.”


Winner’s words:


Gerald Tombs, co-founder and CEO explained: “Our real growth has happened in the past 5-6 years.” Having designed several ‘almost too early’ Internet products, Clearvision was in the


right place, right time with the right products, when ‘cloud’ took off.


“This award is recognition of many years of work by a lot of innovative people; trying things, failing fast and learning. Sometimes, when you’ve made failures, it’s nice to be rewarded for your successes – that’s what this is.”


Second: Renaissance Retirement Third: Intonation Highly Commended: • A-One Insurance Group • GRP Solutions • Willbox


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER 2017


sponsor


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68