Equally important to the local economy is that companies that establish themselves should go on to thrive. HSBC Bank therefore sponsors the Business Development Award 2007, which was won by last year s New Business of the Year, Maxine Lester Residential

Equally important to the local economy is that companies that establish themselves should go on to thrive.

HSBC Bank therefore sponsors the Business Development Award 2007, which was won by last year's New Business of the Year, Maxine Lester Residential Lettings, which has seen phenomenal growth in the last 12 months.

The judges said: "Although the company has been in business for only two years, it has achieved in excess of six per cent of the local residential letting market and doubled in size over the last 12 months.