Business awards winners

THE Hastings and Rother Business Awards 2007 were held at the Powdermills Hotel in Battle on Friday afternoon.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Apr 2007, 13:57 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:08 BST

More than 200 people attended the event, and guest speaker was Michelle Dewberry, star of BBC series The Apprentice. It was organised by 1066 Enterprise and the Observer.

Judges were Colin Monk, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Brighton, John Challis, Business Manager at Business Link Sussex and Bruce Hayter from Rix and Kay Solicitors.

There were a number of categories, all detailed below:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

1. Best Start Up Business sponsored by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise

Winner - The Visionary Soap Company Limited.

The company makes handcrafted organic soaps and body care products and is a fair trade company. Sales grew from 2005 to 2006 by 330% and turnover in 2007 is anticipated to treble again. They have been exporting to a Russian company which is ranked 15th in the world of top retailers and have a contract to supply Oxfam shops. The company now employs three part time staff and the judges were impressed with the growth and entrepreneurial flair of the Company.

2. Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, sponsored by Manningtons Chartered Accountants

Winner - George Stone Limited, a construction company based in Hastings.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The judging panel was impressed with the wide range of activities that the company undertakes in the local community '“ particularly with work in the education sector. This includes organisation of an annual 'Pathway to Construction Challenge' '“ last year 26 students were taken to a construction site '“ after that they were set the challenge of pricing part of the construction work they had been taken to see. In addition the company regularly takes 5 work experience placements and they organise an annual charity Treasure Hunt.

3. Outstanding Community Business of the Year, sponsored by Hastings College

Winner - Hastings Furniture Services.

HFS has been trading for 18 years, providing low cost furniture and appliances to people with low incomes. In addition HFS employs and trains people who have been long term unemployed.