BABY bond pioneer Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society and shop fitting company Cathedral Contracts won premier awards in the county’s business 'Oscars'. In a glittering gala event held at the impressive Saga Pavilion in Sandgate, near Folkestone, Kent’s finest enterprises were honoured in the eighth annual Kent Business Awards.

Tunbridge Wells Equitable was named Kent Company of the Year in the category for organisations with 100 or more employees, with Cathedral Contracts, Whitstable, topping the category for firms with fewer than 100 staff.

Both won silver trophies hand crafted by Deal silversmith Paul Harrison.

The 120-year old friendly society has pioneered insurance products for the young, especially its tax-free baby bond. The bond has become a market leader with a 10 per cent share of all children’s savings plans and accounts opened. Turnover reached £73 million last year.

David White, chief executive, said sales had grown 57 per cent in the last three years and 23 per cent in the last 12 months. “We had to pick something where we could prove we knew what we were doing and we picked long-term savings for children.”

Cathedral Contracts’ managing director Mark Gleeson said he was amazed to win the top award. “I thought we were an old-fashioned company that did old-fashioned things like making things.” He put the success of the company he founded 10 years ago down to the fact that it was still “hungry". He said: “We believe that service is very important and the quality of our staff is second to none. We are dealing in an international market but our people are very local.”

Leeds Castle won the Welcome to Kent Tourism Award for the positive way it responded to the challenges of Foot and Mouth Disease and September 11. Award (TP) International, a promotional firm in Cliftonville, was named Small Business of the Year. Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent, which looks after the terminally ill in hospices in Canterbury, Ashford and Margate, won the Voluntary Sector Award.

Chequers Shopping Centre, Maidstone, won the Creative Advertising Award for its campaign to boost shopping in the county town. Marriott Tudor Park Hotel, Bearsted, won the Customer Service Award, with The Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, and Jackson Batten Financial Group, Swanley, both winning awards for Success through Investors in People Award.

KCC leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart told 400 business leaders and their guests at the ceremony hosted by BBC radio personality Simon Fanshawe: “Kent is now at a time of real lift-off. We have in Kent some wonderful companies and some real growth. It is the Kent economy that drives the quality of life and makes it an increasingly attractive and enjoyable place to live. To you in business, thank you very much for everything you do.”

Award and event sponsors included Kent County Council, Hoverspeed, Business Link Kent, Pfizer, Kent Messenger Group, Invicta FM, Bluewater, Fortis Bank, and Concept Media. Kent Business Awards are created and organised by The Priory Partnership, Brighton. A detailed report, with pictures, will appear in the August issue of Kent Business.