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Leadbitter Construction
Its enviable ability to attract new clients and increasing business from old ones (from 79% in 1998 to 84% in 1999) has certainly done the trick for Oxford-based Leadbitter Construction. Turnover rose 16% to £30m. Slimbridge 2000 visitor centre and headquarters for the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Gloucestershire showed the firm's commitment to sustainability. The judges were particularly impressed with its use of key performance indicators.

Thomas Vale Group
The Worcestershire-based contractor saw turnover grow 9% to £46m with operating profit up 19% to £1m in 1999. A major step for the firm last year was linking up with Citex to bid for Ministry of Defence prime contracts. The company's exemplar project, the lottery-funded £1.6m Dream Factory at Warwick, was completed for less than the £2.2m budgeted for.

Crispin & Borst
Based in Sidcup, Crispin & Borst performed wonders with its operating profit last year, increasing it more than tenfold year on year to £478 000. Turnover was up 27% to £23.4m. A key project in 1999 was the £977 927 refurbishment of Chelsea Town Hall, which was completed four-and-a-half weeks early and for less than the tender sum.

Produced some fantastically high-quality buildings

The move into prime contracting shows they are at the forefront of all the key issues

A company that has changed its fortunes by changing the way it works