by business editor Trevor Sturgess

A firm that specialises in websites for motor dealerships has revved to another industry award.

GForces, based in Bearsted, near Maidstone, won the Best Dealer Website accolade at the annual Automotive Management Awards attended by 1,000 guests in the International Conference Centre in Birmingham.

It is the latest award in a string of accolades for GForces that include Online Innovation, Dealer Website of the Year and Independent Dealer Website of the Year.

It was awarded for a website designed and maintained for the Harwoods Group.

Harwoods specialises in new and used prestige-brand vehicles and operates from 12 sites across Kent, Hampshire and West Sussex.

Archie Harwood, group marketing manager, said the website had had a significant impact on business.

"The GForces-built website has been at the heart of our marketing strategy since it was launched in October 2009, and is now generating large volumes of quality sales leads for our dealerships.

"This award win is great news for Harwoods, and is fitting recognition of the skills and commitment of the GForces team."

Tim Smith, GForces' commercial director, added: "We have very ambitious plans for growth in 2011 and this kind of industry recognition will help spread the name of GForces far and wide, helping us to attract new staff and customers."

GForces has grown rapidly since its foundation in 1999. It now employs 130 people and recently announced plans to create 50 more jobs.