CHEERS nearly raised the roof of a Kent travel company when the boss told staff they had scooped a top national business award.

Champagne flowed at the Albatross Travel Group, as group managing director Sean Taggart told staff they had reached number 40 on the Sunday Times 100 best small companies to work for, 2008.

The 62 employees at the company, based at New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, had been quizzed on questions from whether they felt secure at work to whether they felt part of a team.

The answer was a resounding: "Yes". The company was number 99 on the list in 2007.

The group travel wholesaler, which is part of the Albatross Group has a turnover of £14 million. The group turnover is £26 million.

Mr Taggart told his staff: "It is a fantastic honour to run this business and have people like you around me.

"It is marvellous that you feel so positive about the business."

Accounts assistant Heather Geraghty works a flexible week to fit in with childcare and is being funded for training.

She said: "Days like this make you proud. It is a great place to work."

The company has also recently been awarded two stars by Best Companies, for being a leading company to work for.

Other Kent companies on the list were construction industry services company, the Erith Group, based in Erith, which came 29th. It employs 201 and specialises in asbesto removal, site cleaning and demolition.

At number 64 was the Sevenoaks-based West Kent Housing Association, which employs 196.

The research was conducted by Best Companies for the Sunday Times.