Shortly after winning the award, Rockingham Retirement managing director Steve Evans said it still felt "surreal".

"For a company that began its life from a cupboard under the stairs to be a winner in five years is phenomenal," he said excitedly.

Rockingham Retirement operates in the personal finance industry and is completely dedicated to providing retirement solutions on a direct offer or advice basis.

It now employs 27 people, with a 100 per cent staff retention, and occupies both floors of Rectory Farm Offices, in Warmington, near Oundle, and is about to spread into an attached annexe.

Over the past 12 months, Rockingham Retirement has experienced phenomenal growth.

Its year end accounts for 2007/08 showed a turnover of £980,000, an increase of almost 100 per cent from its previous financial year.

One of the important differences between Rockingham Retirement and its competitors is that it is wholly independent and privately owned. This allows the company to research the entire marketplace to ensure its customers have the very best deal on offer and there is no bias toward one particularly company or product.

Highly commended:
Bluestone Creative Limited designs and develops websites for schools.

It works closely with its clients to provide sound strategic advice and deliver measurable and cost-effective software solutions. Its current education portfolio has more than 500 nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools, including the Thomas Deacon Academy, The King's School and Braybrook Primary School in Peterborough.

Bluestone Creative Ltd was established in 2001 by company directors John Roach and Chris Banks.

During the spring/summer of 2008, the company moved from an old chapel in Northborough into new offices in Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood.

This has enabled the company to establish itself as the UK's leading provider of high quality websites for schools and education; employ an additional 12 members of staff and develop its own software including streaming video such as YouTube.


ZEST Solutions is based in Stamford and specialises in the sourcing, assessing and recruiting of salaried and managerial professionals into the food and fresh produce industries throughout East Anglia and the East Midlands.

Since it was established in 2004, Zest Solutions has enjoyed consistent growth in every way: turnover, profit, staff numbers and client base have all increased in every year of trading. The past 12 months repeated this trend, culminating in a record month in July this year.

Zest Solutions has a policy of recruiting individuals embarking on their recruitment career and offering them the training and prospects to succeed and be promoted within the organisation.

The company recognises that to truly succeed in business the quality of service to both clients and candidates must be exceptional.