THE two shining stars in the Daily Echo's 1999 Hampshire business Awards are Southampton International Airport and Roke Manor Research.

At a gala awards dinner at Mottisfont Abbey, near Romsey, last evening Southampton International Airport won the KPMG Company of the Year, while Roke Manor Research carried off the Bond Pearce Business Innovation Award.

The awards ceremony was hosted by BBC South Today presenter Andrew Harvey, and attended by some of Hampshire's leading business people.

Tony Cottam, senior partner at KPMG South Coast, said the airport's outstanding customer service and determination to meet the needs of both passengers and its business partners had been major factors in its success.

He said: "Its mission is to be the most successful regional airport in Europe and, if it continues on its current path, it will be only a matter of time before it achieves this goal - excellent news for the thousands of business passengers who use the airport every year.

"It's reaping the rewards of a major investment programme in the mid 1990s. In the last five years, passenger numbers have increased by almost 50 per cent, and the airport has shown real tenacity in seeking new markets to expand its range of flights, destinations and services.

"Although it was a tough decision, the judges felt that the airport really demonstrated the drive, strategic vision and excellent all-round performance to deserve being named the KPMG Company of the Year."

Roke Manor Research, based in Romsey, similarly impressed the business innovation award judges with a product that has brought digital audio clarity to a much wider audience.

Since its launch last August, the DAB GoldCard has be-come the company's flagship product, with the judging panel praising the company's "truly innovative" entry.

David d'Arcy Hughes, partner at Bond Pearce, said: "Roke Manor won us over with its clear research and development strategy and very strong identification and knowledge of potential markets - both essential elements in remaining head and shoul-ders above your competitors.

"We had a record number of entries for the Bond Pearce Business Innovation Award this year." proving that companies throughout Hampshire can be counted with the best in the country when it comes to demonstrating leading edge innovation in their products and services."

Picture shows Colin Hobbs managing director of Southampton International Airport, receives the Hampshire Company of the Year Award from Tony Cotton.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.