Companies scrambling to get their entries together for the biggest business awards of the year have got some extra time to work on their applications.

The deadline for entrants to submit their forms for the Kent Excellence in Business Awards – the KEiBAs – has been extended to Friday, March 6.

It comes after bosses and business owners gathered at Aylesford Priory this month for a KEiBA launch breakfast hosted by the IoD Kent branch.

Budding candidates heard from Stephen Lowe, boss of Strood-based textiles supplier Elsatex, whose firm was named Small Business of the Year at last year’s KEiBAs. He spoke about how useful the application process had been for his firm.

“We found it really useful as a way of drawing up a business plan for the year ahead,” he said.

“It was also a real morale booster for staff to get dressed up for the awards ceremony and has really raised our profile.”

Returning for its seventh year, the KEiBAs have become the barometer of business success in the county and a chance to gain unrivalled publicity and stature.

The awards ceremony, run by the KM Group and Kent County Council, will be held at the Kent Showground in Detling on Thursday, June 25.

To enter the KEiBAs entries must be submitted by Friday, March 6 at 5pm. Visit www.keiba.co.uk.