THE success of two south Bucks IT companies was recognised at the Thames Valley Business of the Year Awards for 2000 at a gala dinner last month.

Support services company Allied Worldwide Ltd of took the Gold Award for Enterprise while digital design agency E-creation was presented with the silver award in the Communications category.

Richard Skellet, chief executive and founder of the company, said: "We were honoured to have been selected against tough competition in the Thames Valley. That is a credit to the 200 people in the company."

Allied Worldwide in Bridge Street, High Wycombe, a private company was set up four years ago and today has a turnover of £12 million working in 24 countries.

Jan-Erik Paul, managing director of E-creation in Gerrards Cross, said: "Winning this award is a massive achievement recognising that E-creation has done exceptionaly well at a time when many internet based businesses are suffering due to the 'dot bomb syndrome'.

He added that the company alrady had had several major corporate account wins already for the year and expected to grow by a further 250 per cent over the year.

Judy Pye of the Thames Valley chamber of Commerce, which organised the event, said: "The communications category was a new addition and generated great interest and an enormous response."