7:28pm Thursday 4th October 2007
By Graham Moody
With nominations now closed for this year's champions awards, two very differing companies are going head-to-head for Business of the Year.
Having received many nominations, our panel of judges whittled the list down to a woman who started her business from nothing but now has a £1.5million turnover, and one team of six that has been praised for its old fashioned devotion to service and customer care.
Donna Kingsley set up ADK Security Services nine years ago in a small office in Airport House, Purley Way, after being forced to quit the police because of injury.
Since then the business has not stopped growing and with 20 staff she provides security solutions to businesses, schools and councils and moved to a large premise in Brighton Road.
"I did a course to become an alarm engineer and decided to set up my own company after that," Donna, who puts her success down to her hard-working team, said. "I am very lucky to have so many good people on board and I try to develop people through the company."
She was nominated by Pepperton UK director Celestine Agbo, who said: "This woman is living proof that hard work pays. She has developed her business over the years to the point that it towers above any in Croydon, she is a true inspiration for all business folk, not just in Croydon but in the UK."
Donna will be up against Jones Plumbing Supplies, who have built up an army of fans through their 'no quibble' customer service ethos.
Run by Derek Miller and his team of five, the business in Sydenham Road prides itself on providing good old-fashioned service and making sure all the staff are happy.
"We try where we can to offer an above service and are inclined to be a little bit old fashioned and repair people's goods rather than replace them," said Derek, who compared his small work force to a little community.
"I say to my staff the day you stop getting up and look forward to work is the day you should leave. We have a laugh here - we're like a little community."
Mary and John de Ville were one of many to nominate the plumbers, and they said: "They are always very polite and are happy to go to considerable lengths to please their customers. We would not think of going anywhere else for plumbing supplies."
The Croydon Champions award ceremony will be held at the Hilton Hotel on November 7.
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