Award winners and other Kent firms have been praised for overcoming tough economic times by hard graft.

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, hailed the county’s businesses at the chamber’s fourth annual awards which were presented in Canterbury on Wednesday night.

"Kent is proving to be a great place to do business, even in the depths of our current economic problems," she said. " Kent companies are showing that even adverse conditions can be overcome by diligence and sheer hard graft."

The founder of a jobs website was named entrepreneur of the year. Paul Andrews, who set up www.jobsinkent.com, based in Maidstone, won the accolade at the gala dinner in Canterbury Cathedral Lodge.

Other awards went to Ashford-based Red Alert Telecare (Most Promising New Business), a company that provides monitoring equipment for the vulnerable; Sunray Engineering (Business of the Year). specialists in fabricating and installing steel doors; and quantity surveying business The Woodley Coles LLP, Challock, (Excellence in Customer Service).

Winners were presented with an engraved glass trophy and cash, plus free chamber membership for 12 months.

The chamber launched the awards in 2006 to celebrate business excellence in Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, the areas it serves as a British Chambers of Commerce accredited chamber.

Other finalists:

Entrepreneur of the Year: Clive Gawler, Red Alert Telecare, and Rob Ward, Sennet Insurance Services. Most Promising New Business: Kent Trainers, Paddock Wood, and Insight Bridge, Whitstable.

Business of the Year: The Woodley Coles LLP, and Rich Picture, Ashford. Excellence in Customer Service: CAT, Canterbury, and Bridgewood Manor Hotel, Chatham.

The awards were sponsored by Canterbury Enterprise Hub (Entrepreneur of the Year); HSBC (Most Promising New Business); University of Kent (Business of the Year) and Brachers Law (Excellence in Customer Service). Other sponsors were Ashford Borough Council, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, and The KM Group.

The judges were: Carole Barron (University of Kent,) Nick Rowell (The Portable Business School), David Butler (Canterbury Enterprise Hub), Graham Jordan (HSBC), Henry Nydam (Brachers Law), and Morag Welham, KM Group.