A SOUTH Lakeland company is on the crest of a wave after being named the best in its field by industry insiders.

Catalyst scooped the team-building company of the year accolade at the Corporate Events Association's annual awards.

It marked something of a return to form for the team-building specialists, who had left recent CEA award ceremonies empty-handed after previously enjoying a hat-trick of wins in the competition.

With hundreds of businesses of varying sizes operating team-building training across the country, there was plenty of competition in the market place.

But Catalyst, based at Mealbank, near Kendal, was determined to repeat its earlier award successes, and sought the marketing expertise of Lancaster-based Charter Solutions to help spice up its submission to the awards judges.

Marketing manager Jacqui Hill said rather than blowing its own trumpet, Catalyst decided to let some of its many clients sing the firm's praises.

Their comments clearly impressed the judges, together with a 79 per cent repeat business rate and an average client satisfaction score of 91 per cent.

But news of the success was kept a secret from most of Catalyst's staff until bosses finally revealed the good news a fortnight after the London awards ceremony, at the firm's annual conference.

Joint managing director John Bird said the firm's programmes were acclaimed worldwide by internationally-renowned brand name companies. "We can work with small groups through to an all-singing, all-dancing literally major event involving thousands of people."

He added: "We provide exciting and stimulating events, all of which are stamped with Catalyst's special brand of creativity, vibrancy and energy."

Fellow joint managing director Sean Eatherden said conference celebrations to mark the success represented "a fantastic finale to a year that has seen us face many changes and as a result really pull together and consolidate our efforts."

He added: "It is wonderful to be based up in the Lake District and yet effectively be able to deliver our events throughout the world and receive recognition from within our industry that we have set benchmarks of excellence.

"I am very proud of all my staff. They are an amazing team with a huge collection of individual skills which, when mixed together, can make almost anything happen."

Like many others in its field, Catalyst faced a difficult time after the September 11 terrorist attacks. British Airways, previously one of one of its largest clients, for example, slashed its training budget virtually overnight.

But the firm has overcome the challenge and enjoyed its second best-ever year in 2004, with bluechip clients including Legal and General, Vodafone, AstraZeneca, Reebok and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Founded in 1989, Catalyst now employs 26 full-time staff, can call on the services of a further 60 freelancers when the need arises, and has franchise operations in the US, Australia and the Middle East.

l Catalyst marketing manager Jacqui Hill with the firm's award. (D5A074MH2)