Final countdown

The waiting is almost over for the three Hampshire businesses in the running for the prestigious KPMG Company of the Year award in this year's Daily Echo Business Awards, with the winner due to be announced at an awards ceremony and dinner this Thursday.

Hailing from diverse industry sectors and three different locations around the county, this year's finalists impressed the judging panel by demonstrating strong financial performance, a clear strategy for business growth, excellent products and services and a sustained policy of staff management and development.

However, as well as these essential qualities, the three companies all have unique attributes which secured their place as finalists. We take a look at the three companies in the running with Tony Cottam, senior partner of KPMG's South Coast office and chairman of the judging panel.

Portsmouth-based City Technology is a true market leader, supplying gas sensors to 70 per cent of the available worldwide market. It was founded 25 years ago by four City University chemists, before being acquired by First Technology in 2000.

The company's 200 products, developed and manufactured by 300 local staff, are designed to measure gases in a variety of applications, such as industrial safety, emissions monitoring, medical equipment and indoor air quality monitoring. City Technology continually strives to develop smaller, better and cheaper products, investing 10 per cent of revenue each year into research and development. This forward-thinking approach is rewarded by products launched within the past two years making up 20 per cent of sales.

With a commitment to delivering reliable, cost-effective products, three-quarters of its sensors are exported to locations around the world and City Technology is continually pursuing new markets, such as the developing world where safety standards are becoming more commonplace.

"City Technology is a great example of how to make a success of production in the UK - indeed, the financial results would be the envy of most companies," comments Mr Cottam. "Teamwork, lean production processes and a flexible workforce are key to its achievements. It's highly encouraging to see a manufacturer investing in research and development to ensure its products are continually at the cutting edge of their field."

Paultons Park is a family leisure park at Ower, near Romsey, and in 20 years has established an enviable position in the leisure and tourism sector. When the Paultons Estate was split up and sold in 1979, the Mancey family bought the land which surrounded the old house and had lain neglected for twenty years. It took three years to restore the lake, gardens and parkland before opening as a country park and bird gardens in 1983.

The Park now has over 40 different attractions designed to appeal to young families, including a variety of rides, exhibitions and museums, a nationally acclaimed bird collection and landscaped gardens.

A runner-up in the 2002 Hampshire Business Awards, the park achieved a ten per cent increase in visitors to 550,000 last year, as well as recognition as the UK's most family-friendly leisure park in a national consumer magazine survey. Two new rides - the Wave Runner Water Coaster and the Flying Frog - have opened this year and financial results for 2003 are already ahead of projections. It is committed to developing new attractions each year to ensure repeat custom and sustain the loyalty and interest of local visitors. Further expansion plans are in the pipeline for 2004.

"Paulton's Park has made tremendous efforts to build upon its success over the past year and continues to reinvest profits for the future," comments Mr Cottam. "This innovative, well-run family business clearly knows its market and continues to improve the facilities and infrastructure at the park, adding new rides and exploring new ways of attracting custom out of season."

International consultancy Scott Wilson is not only based in Hampshire but is also responsible for many of the county's landmarks and facilities: the Portsmouth Spinnaker tower, Basingstoke Hospital and the proposed Dibden Bay Port development, to name but a few.

Its Basingstoke headquarters employs over 350 people, with a further 1,700 based in 32 offices across the UK. An additional 40 offices worldwide brings the total to 3,300 staff.

Established in the 1950s, it started life as a structural engineering consultancy, working on projects such as the Shell building and the Royal Festival Hall. Fifty years on, core engineering activity occupies 60 per cent of staff, with the balance comprising scientists, management consultants and environmental experts - all involved in groundbreaking projects across the world. With experience of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, the firm hopes to play a role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Eighty per cent of work is repeat business and the key objective is to fulfil the requirements of its clients, while providing value for money. Sustainability is a core value and the company is dedicated to the development of its people, with human resources represented at board level.

Mr Cottam comments: "Scott Wilson is an outstanding example of a world-leading business, and is involved in a fascinating range of projects both locally and across the globe. It's great to see these kind of highly skilled people based in Hampshire. The leaders of the business are clearly focused on profitable growth and have a track record of identifying and developing new markets."

He concludes: "Although my role on the judging panel is always a difficult one, it's also extremely gratifying to see three such outstanding companies flying the flag for Hampshire business. To have got this far is a fantastic achievement and all three should be proud of their undoubted success and contribution to the county's business community. I look forward to naming the winner at the ceremony on Thursday."