SIMPLY the best! Three businesses in Hampshire walked away with accolades ringing in their ears after success in last night's Hampshire business Awards 2003.

Judging panel chairman Tony Cottam had an upbeat message for the black-tie dinner guests who attended the top-class ceremony at Meridian TV studios in Southampton.

The senior partner with KPMG in the south said: "It's a great illustration of the breadth of skills and talent we have in Hampshire and such diversity can only be a good thing for the health of the county's economy.

"At a time when clouds are still on the horizon for business, it has been great to see these companies putting the county firmly on the map as an excellent place to do business."

And three firms did just that - the business.

Scott Wilson, a Basingstoke based international consultancy that designed the landmark Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, was made KPMG Company of the Year.

Industrial Acoustics Company, a Winchester firm leading the way in the aviation field, collected the Bond Pearce Innovation Award.

Motor giant Ford, the world's second biggest carmaker, gained the Marsh Business in the Community Award for its good-neighbour work in and around its Transit van factory in Swaythling, Southampton.

All three companies employ more than 2,140 people between them in Hampshire, and the judges said they richly deserved the Daily Echo-backed awards.

Bond Pearce partner David d'Arcy Hughes spoke of the "spirit of innovation and enterprise that is clearly thriving among Hampshire businesses".

Harvie Carswell, head of Marsh's Southamp-ton office, paid tribute to all the finalists, saying they all "deserve recognition".

Four other firms had been shortlisted for awards. They were gas sensor makers City Technology of Portsmouth, leisure park giant Paultons Park, based near Romsey, ABP, which owns the Port of Southampton, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, which is campaigning to reduce the number of fires.

Stewart Dunn, managing director, Newsquest Hampshire, which publishes the Daily Echo, said: "The high standard of entries once again demonstrated the depth of business excellence across a broad and diverse range of companies throughout the county."