Award Wins For Boss Of Checkatrade!
Online, December 23, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Presented by The Apprentice star Ruth Badger, competition for this prestigious category was fierce, but the judges felt Kevin stood out head and shoulders above the rest due to his outstanding business achievements.
These included growing his company to one that employs 72 staff with a turnover approaching £5m in just a few short years.
Checkatrade.com, which provides a trusted database of vetted trade companies to help people avoid rogue traders, is going from strength, thanks to his leadership.
The company continuously vets and monitors local tradespeople such as builders, plumbers and electricians as well as service providers.
The idea was born in 1998 after a tornado hit Selsey. A delighted Kevin welcomed the accolade. He said: "Winning entrepreneur of the year at the prestigious Sussex Business Awards is an enormous personal milestone for me and my business, Checkatrade.com. It is fantastic to see our continuing success and strong business growth recognized. I would like to thank our hard working staff and my family, who have supported me since day one".
The ceremony was attended by over 400 of the county's business figures including the Lord Leitenant of East Sussex Mr Peter Field, Mayor of Brighton and Hove Councillor Anne Meadows, John Barradell, Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove Council and Carolin Lucas MP.
For the first time the winners of the Sussex Business Awards and the Brighton and Hove Business Awards were announced in a joint ceremony. Eleven Sussex Business awards were presented by BBC1's The Apprentice star, Ruth Badger.
Hailsham based Club Class Chauffeurs were runners up for the two awards before managing director, Jonathan Dow received the accolade of Business Person of the Year.
The Sussex Company of the Year was presented to Parafix Holdings, the UK's convertor and distributor of self adhesive materials, based in Lancing.
The winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Sussex Life was won by Kevin Byrne (Checkatrade) the finalists were Gary Peters (Brightonandhovejobs.com) Phillippa Stephen-Martin (Manor of things).