An award-winning business scooped the £500 top prize at the Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards – and promptly gave it away to a good cause.

Moments after Allpark was named Dartford and Gravesham Business of the Year, bosses announced the generous gesture.

The prize money went to EllenorLions Hospices. A further £840 was raised for the charity during a gala dinner at The Woodville, Gravesend, on Friday.

The Gravesend company designs, manufactures and installs traffic management, street furniture and cycle parking products.

It was Allpark’s second top trophy in three years. In 2011, the firm was named Gravesend Business of the Year.

Adam Barlow, commercial director, said: “It’s very important to not only be in business to make money but also to give back to local charities.”

He added that the firm aimed to source most of its materials and services from local suppliers. “This is a fantastic area for our business,” he added.

Recruitment agency MC Personnel, also based in Gravesend, won £300 as runner-up, with £200 going to third-placed Hodgson Pharmacy, Longfield.

Ebbsfleet United Football Club won a special Community Involvement Award, for its work with local people and organisations.

A dozen businesses from across Kent Thameside reached the final. The others were:

2-Move estate agents
Amax Estates and Property Services
Broadditch Farm Shop
Edward Bond Wealth Management
Hatten Wyatt
Moolands Ltd
PLP Fire and Security
Blue Rocket Accounting

Matt Kear, Lloyds Bank SME Relationship Manager for Commercial Banking in the South East, and chairman of judges, told them: “You form an elite group of businesses which have made it to this stage of the competition and that’s a fact you should be proud of.”

Sponsors of the ninth annual Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards were Barnes Roffe, Gravesham council, Dartford council, Edinburgh House, Kent Business School, KM Media Group, Lloyds Bank, Thomson Snell & Passmore and the University of Greenwich.

See the Gravesend Messenger and Dartford Messenger on Thursday for a full report and pictures.