CUSTOMER SERVICE AND STAFF TRAINING A WINNING FORMULA FOR CAR DEALERS KINGHAMS

A Croydon car dealership whose dedication to its local customers, staff and community has helped it buck the recessionary trend was the big winner at Croydon Business Awards on Wednesday night (April 13th) www.croydonbusinessawards.co.uk.

Kinghams of Croydon won the prestigious Business of the Year trophy at the Croydon Business Awards, which were held in association with Barclays and organised by South London Business.  The company’s owner, Keith Kingham, received the honour in front of an invited audience of more than 300 local businessmen and women who attended the black tie event at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls.

“I am so proud,” said Keith, whose company had already scooped awards for Best Business for Training and Development and Best Customer Service earlier in the evening. “I was born in Croydon, in Mayday Hospital, and I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve got an awful lot to be thankful for. Kinghams is 50 years old this year and despite the recession, we are still selling and servicing cars and will continue to do that.  We have always believed that our job is to look after our customers and I would like to thank them all for their support.”

Presenting the award Thorsten Seeger, Area Business Director for Barclays Business in South London, said: “This business is a cornerstone of Croydon.  It has had enormous success in an industry which has been going through a difficult time by putting the customer at the heart of everything.”

And Mary Anna Shepherd from Whitgift School who had earlier presented Keith with the award for Best Training and Development said she had been so impressed by his business case and marketing plan that she had taken it into the school’s business studies class as an example. “I told my class that I hoped they would become entrepreneurs just like Keith,” she said.

The Croydon Business Awards ceremony and Gala Dinner at Fairfield Halls celebrated the best of Croydon’s business talent, with more than 40 shortlisted local companies battling it out to be the winners in 12 separate award categories.

Awards presenter, Colourful Radio director Henry Bonsu, entertained a packed audience, with attendees enjoying a three course Gala dinner and taking part in a charity raffle and silent auction, before hearing the announcement of the winners of these local business ‘Oscars’ in a fun filled and glamorous evening.

Peter Pledger, chief executive of South London Business which organised the awards, said: “The awards are celebrating the success and brilliance of businesses in Croydon. They recognise what is good and successful about the borough and demonstrate that success to all who live and and work in Croydon as well as across South London.”

And Torsten Seegar from headline sponsor Barclays added: “Croydon is one of the most vibrant and dynamic boroughs in South London. I really believe Croydon will be the driver of economic growth in coming decades thanks to the entrepreneurialism and commitment of its businessmen and woman, and in particular, its young people.”

If you would like to find out further information on the 2012 Croydon Business Awards, and be added to the mailing list please email the business awards team at croydonawards@southlondonbusiness.co.uk