A HI-TECH bioscience manufacturer has celebrated 10 years in Thanet with a triple triumph in the area's top business contest. Biozone, based at Westwood Industrial Park, Margate, was named Thanet Company of the Year, sponsored by Thanet council.

The company also won the Medium and Large Business Award (Business Link Kent) and a Highly Commended accolade in the exporter of the year category, sponsored by Sericol.

Company founder Judy MacArthur Clark got into the habit of walking up to collect silverware at a VIP presentation lunch in Northbourne House, Cliftonville. Her husband and co-founder was away on business in the United States and could not share in the glory. But Dr MacArthur Clark rang him with the good news from her mobile.

Biozone, a company that makes containers to hold material used in bio-medical research, started in Thanet in the summer of 1992. It now employs 40 and generates sales of around £3m, earned mostly from exports.

Dr MacArthur Clark said: "We are a steadily growing company making a quality product that we can sell to markets all over the world. We have the courage to go out and really make it happen."

They had come from outside the area 10 years ago but soon recognised it was an "excellent environment". She paid tribute to the quality of the staff. "Without that workforce, we wouldn't be able to do what we do so our success is down to the efforts, the commitment and skills that they have."

Other awards in the 17th annual Thanet Business Awards run by Thanet council went to: The Sleep Centre, Ramsgate (Barclays Small Business Award); Revolution Skate Park, Broadstairs (highly commended); Ethelbert Specialist Homes, Manston (Business Link Kent's Investing in Training Award), The Peak Organisation, Margate (highly commended): AEM, Manston (Sericol Exporter of the Year); Broadstairs Folk Week (Elonville Hotel Tourism and Leisure Award), Minster Museum (highly commended): Jason Crittenden (highly commended employee of the year).