Kent Union has been awarded Best Companies status at a national awards ceremony in London.

Kent is the first student-run organisation to achieve this recognition, given to companies who score highly on a staff survey and company questionnaire.

At an elaborate dinner in the Battersea Evolution centre to celebrate the top 100 medium and top 20 large companies, hosted by BBC news presenter Kate Silverton, Kent Union finished in 80th position.

KMPG, the audit and tax advisors, finished first in the large company awards and Beaverbrooks, the jewellers, won the medium category.

The accolade is a huge victory for Kent Union, which employs around 500 people, 350 of whom are students.

Union president Tom Christian said “We’ve always gone out of our way to look after our staff and put in the application for accreditation but we weren’t expecting to make the top 100.

“We’re the first Students’ Union in history to achieve this.”

With £7.5 million, Kent Union has one of the lowest registered sales on the list of companies that includes Kellogg’s and Specsavers.

The highest placed companies in the medium sized group made pre-tax profits of £4m and £13m, while Kent Union made £0.1m.

The Sunday Times published list is researched and developed by Best Companies and gives annual awards to companies following answers from staff members on eight categories including 'personal growth’ and 'my manager’.

Kent Union scored highly in both categories with an 81 per cent rating for enjoying working with colleagues.

Mr Christian added: “The award is a massive achievement and a testament to how seriously we take the welfare of all our staff.”