Swale Business Awards

The top two prizes at the ‘2009 Swale Business Awards’ have been won by companies based at Kent Science Park.

GoResponse took the title ‘Swale Business of the Year’ with Global Associates named runner-up.

Organised by Thames Gateway Chamber of Commerce, the Awards recognised and rewarded the borough’s most forward-thinking companies.

GoResponse, is an outsourced call centre, which has become an industry leader thanks to its focus on developing technology solutions and facilities.  The company has developed its Livestream service, enabling its customers, many of whom are e-commerce businesses, to log-on via their computer and view what is happening in terms of calls taken from their customers.

The company, which employs 70 people with the majority living in the borough, relocated to Kent Science Park five years ago thanks to the work of Locate in Kent, the county’s inward investment agency.

Mark Kirby, Managing Director of GoResponse, said: “Given the current economy where everybody is having to work harder this is a great boost for morale.  We have invested heavily in new technology over the summer and this Award is a great news for everybody in the team and recognition for all their hard work and commitment to the success of the business.”

Global Associates, a business which started serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, now works for many industries across the South East.  The company has become experts in providing building control systems and the design, installation and maintenance of complex building management systems. The company believes it has yet to find a building whose energy efficiency it can’t improve and therefore reduce the size of an organisation’s carbon footprint.

Tony Buck, Director at Global Associates, said: “Given the standard of the companies who entered it was an honour to be shortlisted for the finals. To be recognised in this field is great news for the team and will provide us with an excellent opportunity to promote ourselves to businesses not just in Swale but across the whole county.”

Global Associates generously donated their £750.00 prize money at the Gala Dinner to the Awards chosen charity – The Micro and Anophthalmic Children’s Society charity.

Congratulating the two winners, James Speck, Site Director at Kent Science Park, said: “Once again the significance of the Park to the success of the local economy through the commercial success of our tenants has been recognised by these Awards. Congratulation to all the winners and finalists.”

• Kent Science Park
• Thames Gateway Chamber of Commerce
• Go Response
• Global Associates
• Micro and Anophthalmic Children’s Society