It was another successful year for Kent Science Park at the Swale Business Awards, with one tenant taking home the award for Small Business of the Year and two others as finalists. AbBaltis Limited, who have been based at the Park for nearly two years, were presented the award at a prestigious Gala Evening that took place at the BarnYard in Upchurch. This comes one year after EcoVillage, KSP’s shop and café, was named Small Business of the Year 2012. EcoVillage’s sister company Cucumber Catering was also a finalist this year; along with information management company Entity Group.
AbBaltis is a scientific start-up that specialises in providing biological materials to the In Vitro diagnostics industry and other research organisations. This means supplying disease state plasma and residual clinical samples to organisations all across the EU. The company also has plans to expand into the Asian market, where there has been major growth in In Vitro diagnostics.
James Speck, Site Director at KSP, was also invited to welcome everyone to the awards with a speech about some of the most successful businesses in Swale, and what the awards mean to the community. With 180 guests in attendance, the Swale Business Awards were a huge success. Almost £3,000 was raised for the Mayor’s Charity Fund, Help for Heroes and Royal British Legion, and the Wisdom Hospice in Swale.
Giedre Brandao, Managing Director at AbBaltis, commented on their fantastic achievement, “It was a great honour to be one of the finalists at the Swale Business Awards. Words cannot describe the excitement we felt when we were announced as the winners of Small Business of the Year. We are a supplier of critical disease state plasma materials to In Vitro diagnostics manufacturers worldwide and the award has helped raise our profile and reaffirm our commitment, which ultimately contributes to better diagnosis of patients. Also the prize has given our staff a lot of confidence and motivation, so we are getting back down to work and hoping for some more success in the coming year.”
James Speck offered his congratulations to Giedre and her team, “I have seen AbBaltis grow dramatically in the last two years. Giedre started on her own and now employs four other people, meaning that she has increased her business premises on the Park to accommodate her company’s growing needs. It has always been our aim to nurture and help small companies grow, so it is wonderful news that a KSP tenant has won Small Business of the Year two years in a row. AbBaltis and EcoVillage both demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that exists on the Park and they truly deserve their awards. I wish Giedre every success in the future, and I am sure AbBaltis will continue to grow and flourish.”
