WITH just over a week to go until the winners of this year's Daily Echo-backed Hampshire business Awards are announced, we profile the finalists in the running for this year's KPMG Company of the Year award.

Tony Cottam, senior partner at KPMG's south coast office in Southampton, takes a look at this year's finalists and explains what helped them secure their place as one of the final three in the running to be named the county's top company.

BAA Southampton Airport:

When over half of your customers tell you they would change absolutely nothing about the service you offer, you know you that you must be doing something right!

This was the main finding of a recent customer satisfaction survey carried out by Southampton Airport, and as one of the fastest growing airports in the UK, with passenger numbers increasing by 72 per cent last year, it is obviously working hard to attract and retain record numbers of people coming through its doors which in turn produces excellent financial results.

Since it first opened in 1994, Southampton Airport has expanded to serve 33 destinations, with eight airlines flying to a diverse range of European cities, and more planned for the future.

The team is also encouraging foreign companies to increase their business activity in the region by raising the profile of the county through a wide variety of groups in Europe.

Tony said: "As one of the county's key services, Southampton Airport gives its customers what they want and we were impressed by its constant communication with customers and the community."

Staff: 181

Location: Eastleigh

Company status: Subsidiary of BAA plc

Product/Service: Airport

CHURCHILL RETIREMENT LIVING:

Finding a niche and offering the best possible product to a particular market is often the key to a successful business and Churchill Retirement Living, which specialises in developing high quality one and two-bedroom apartments for the retirement sector, is doing just that.

With estimates that by 2021 there will be 16 million people over the age of 60 in the UK, a 33 per centincrease on today's figure, Churchill Retirement Living clearly has a sharp eye on the future.

The company has placed an emphasis on attention to detail and meeting customers' needs.

Crucial to the success of the business is its land bank and Churchill Retirement Living puts great effort into ensuring there is a steady flow of sites ready to be developed.

All this has helped produce some impressive financial results, and the company's rapid growth looks set to continue under its experienced and professional management team led by chairman and managing director Spencer McCarthy.

Tony said: "Churchill Retirement Living is a very well run business which clearly understands its target market and is committed to providing an excellent quality product in its chosen sector."

Staff: 78

Location: Ringwood

Company status: Private

Product/Service: Retirement house builder

FAT FACE:

Fat Face was founded in the late eighties by Tim Slade and Jules Leaver who sold sweatshirts and fleeces from rucksacks in bars in the French Alps to fund their ski season.

From these humble beginnings, the Havant-based business now employs over 1,250 staff in 85 stores across the UK, with a further three in France and one in Dublin, as well as a successful mail order business.

However despite this phenomenal growth, fun, practical kit for an active lifestyle is still the company's trademark.

Key to developing the brand is the identification and exploitation of new markets, and the company has recently expanded its product range, with jewellery and footwear added to the clothing lines, as well as children's clothing now sold in an additional 25 stores.

Tony said: "With outstanding financial performance, sound management and constant exploitation of new markets, Fat Face is a strong, exciting business in a highly competitive sector."

Staff:1,253

Location:Havant

Company status: Private

Product / Service: Casual clothing retailer