Winners & Finalists 2011
"Having strong family connections with Hertfordshire – my mum and sister live in Hitchin – it’s fantastic to be invited to host this prestigious and very important event. Business is at the heart of every community. It helps us all and it will help us all out of the recession. "The enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication of all the finalists is amazing. Even better, they raised a fantastic amount for Help for Heroes. Thank you." Paul Ross
Setting up a new business is daunting at the best of times. But starting one in today’s uncertain economic climate is positively frightening.
Just 22 weeks ago, Alliance Intelligent Scaffolding did not exist. Now, just a few months later, partners Justin Wall and Daniel Yorke are celebrating winning the New Business Award.
The pair have more than 20 years of expertise in the scaffolding industry, and put that into their own Hemel Hempstead-based firm in the summer.
And the award proves hard work can certainly pay off.
"Words just can’t describe it," said an elated Daniel.
Justin said: "It’s just amazing, really. Since we started we’ve been working so hard, so it’s great to get recognition.
"You secretly hope to win, but there were so many great businesses in our category, and so diverse."
And the pair don’t plan on resting on their laurels, going into 2012.
Justin added: "Even if we hadn’t won, next year we’re going to get bigger and bigger.
"We’re moving to new premises, and getting more vehicles and taking on more staff.
"We’re so busy, and bookings have just taken off."
The big winner of the night was PayPoint, which scooped not only the Most Successful Large Business (Turnover £20m+) prize, but the overall Company of the Year honour.
If you pay your household bills or top up your mobile at a petrol station, convenience store or newsagent, there’s a good chance you’re a PayPoint customer.
For its reach is far and wide from its base in Welwyn Garden City – with a network of 24,000 shops across the country. There are operations in Ireland and Romania, too.
Tim Watkin-Rees, business development director, said: "We’re a locally-based business with a national focus, and we’re proud of our Hertfordshire heritage.
"We set up in the county in 1996 and now employ 300 people in Welwyn Garden City."
He said: "We’re really delighted to win – and it was a very nice surprise [to win Company of the Year].
"Clearly it was a very impressive group of finalists and it’s nice to come through against some strong competition."
Business Person of the Year was Tony Reynolds, the managing director of Waltham Cross-based Reynolds Catering.
Tony is a third generation greengrocer; his grandfather William having first set up a fruit and veg stall in Hackney in 1945.
Today, Reynolds Catering is a multi-million pound family business, and one of the UK’s leading independent distributors of fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and cheese.
While Tony’s award was an individual one, he was keen to stress the recognition was not just for him.
He said: "I got nominated by my company, but it’s really a team effort.
"It’s great for the whole team, and the Reynolds family.
"I’m very, very surprised, but very happy."
He added: "It’s been a tough year, but we’ve invested a lot in our people and our systems, and this is a nice way to end the year."
Training and Development
Winner: Altro Ltd
Sponsored by: Xpert HR
Presented by: Head of Sales Jonathan Hammer
Finalists:
Ashbourne Insurance
Churchill Knight & Associates Ltd
Epitome Health and Beauty
Midas R2R Ltd
Staff are among any company’s strongest assets – and the development of the workforce is crucial to success.
And that philosophy helped Altro Ltd win the Training and Development (excluding training companies) honour.
Based in Letchworth, the family-owned firm is a leading UKÂ manufacturer and supplier of wall and floor coverings.
Vicki Sharp, senior learning and development adviser, said: "This achievement means a lot to all of us.
"Learning and development is at the heart of everything we do as an organisation, and we’ve been making huge advances and improvements."
She added: "Developing our leaders of the future is absolutely crucial.
"Our main differentiator and our biggest asset is our people, so developing our people is essential for the long-term success of the organisation."
Current talk may be about rising youth unemployment levels, but One Claims Ltd is tackling that issue head-on.
And giving the younger generation a chance helped the Hoddesdon company claim the Supporting Young People Award.
The firm provides claims management and medical emergency assistance services to the travel and personal accident insurance market
And joining bosses to celebrate at the awards ceremony were some of the younger members of staff themselves.
Judi Hoal, group operations director, said: "I’m absolutely over the moon, but even more happy to be able to share it, as we’ve brought some of our wonderful young people here tonight.
"This is all part of their education. You can teach them all kinds of things, but they’ve never been to a black tie event."
Ms Hoal said the future was "bright" for the company, thanks to the hard work shown by the workforce.
She said: "We’re bringing young people in with no experience, straight from school and college, and training them in every aspect of insurance work.
"What they lack in experience, they have energy, passion and drive in abundance.
"We operate in a tough economic climate, but with the people we have it makes these challenges easier to face.
Company of the Year
Winner: PayPoint
Sponsored by: BDO
Presented by: Partner Kieran Storan
WORKING in the recruitment amid a backdrop of rising unemployment levels nationally is daunting, to say the least.
One company that has shone through is CMC Consulting, which won the Recruitment Award.
The financial recruitment specialists was founded in Hertfordshire 20 years ago. It now has a 51-strong workforce across a network of six offices, including 16 staff working at an office in St Albans.
Marketing executive Jennifer Wright said: "The award means quite a lot to us, and it’s very nice to recognise our success.
"A recession is always a challenging marketplace, but there’s always a need for high calibre finance professionals.
"As a business, we work with our clients to understand their needs."
Victoria Paine, HR manager, added: "It has been a challenging time [the past year], but what we try to do in quieter times is continue relationships.
"That’s how you grow your repeat business, because when our clients are ready to recruit again they know where we are."
The economic forecast may be gloomy, but CMC Consulting’s prospects are looking rosy for the coming year, with further investment in the business and staff on the horizons.
"It’s important to encourage staff to ensure morale is up," Jennifer added.
Booking a private jet used to be a fragmented and cumbersome task – until PrivateFly brought the marketplace online.
Its unique online booking system has simplified the process, connecting customers with a global network of 7,000 aircraft at the touch of a button.
And that’s earned the St Albans firm the Business Website & Online Strategy Award.
Carol Cork, co-founder and sales/marketing director, said: "We’re the first website to bring private jet booking online. We’re a cost comparison site for the private jet industry.
"You were never able to do that before."
She said: "I’m thrilled, it’s fantastic recognition.
"A great website and a great company is all about the team behind it, and this is a great accolade to the energy and enthusiasm of the team."