Firms double up with excitement

Full service media agency Interdirect, of Salford, and Abbot Fire Group, of Gawcott, near Buckingham, have wowed the judges at the Milton Keynes and North Bucks Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

Interdirect has been shortlisted for Business of the Year (£1m-£5m) and the Best Business Improvement through Application of Innovation/Technology Award.

Abbot has been shortlisted for Business of the Year (less than £1m turnover), and Excellence in People Development.

Both companies are previous winners of the chamber’s top accolades but both have changed over the years.

And Interdirect reckons they will be facing competition of a ‘world class standard’ from two other companies in both their awards. Interdirect has added PR and marketing to its more established digital design and development functions.

Founder and managing director of Interdirect, Nicholas Mann said: “Interdirect has always supported innovation and development in Milton Keynes, and the Chamber Awards help celebrate some of the very best local talent in the area. 2011 has been a successful year for Interdirect; with our client base continuing to grow and our range of products, services and solutions proving as popular as ever.

“October also sees Interdirect celebrate its 16th birthday, so we will be hoping for a double cause for celebration this autumn.”

Nigel Walton, director at Abbot Fire Group, believes initiatives such as becoming the first, and currently only, UK company to be approved by the LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) to install and service Ansul kitchen suppression systems, has helped Abbot Fire be shortlisted.

He said: “As a business we continually strive to provide the best service to our customers through initiatives such as bespoke staff training and people development, and third party accreditation for different services of the business. It’s great to be recognised and shortlisted for these respected awards based on such initiatives.”

The winners will be announced on October 20 at the Doubletree by Hilton, stadium:mk. The guest speaker is due to be Christian Horner of World Champion F1 team Red Bull.