Thirty-five Kent businesses have made it through to the final round of this year’s Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA)

KEiBA is staged and produced by Kent County Council and the KM Group and recognises excellence in Kent’s businesses. The 14 categories incorporate companies of all sizes as well as individual awards.

Mark Dance, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said: “It is fantastic to once again see so many outstanding entries from businesses right across Kent. Every year the calibre of entries just gets better and better.

“All of the finalists have done so well to get this far in a tough economic climate. It just goes to show that Kent is open for business!”

Geraldine Allinson, KM Group chairman, said: “I would like to congratulate all the finalists in a record-breaking year for KEiBA entries. I was delighted to see such an enthusiastic response from businesses and organisations across the county, despite the economic challenges that we all face.

"Once again, the standard was very high and the judges faced a tough job selecting the best of the best.

“There are some remarkable stories of enterprise, risk-taking and outstanding achievement among all the finalists.

"Reaching this stage is a benchmark of excellence, but I hope that the very good organisations who narrowly missed the cut this year will have another go next time.

"I wish all the finalists good luck and look forward to hearing the results at the gala celebration”

This year’s entries have all been through a rigorous judging process which involved the judges visiting each of the shortlisted entrants to carry out a more in-depth investigation through face-to-face interviews with managers and staff before selecting the list of finalists.

THIS YEAR'S KEiBA FINALISTS

Large Business of the Year

FM Conway, Dartford

Markerstudy Group, Sevenoaks

Xmo Strata Ltd, Marde

SME Business of the Year

Chartway Group Ltd, Maidstone

Component Force Ltd, Rochester

Joss Bay Surf School, Broadstairs

PressOn, Rochester

Start Up Business of the Year

Eos Civil Engineering, Canterbury

indEx Enclosures Ltd, Ashford

The Creation Lab Ltd, Dartford

Best Leisure and Tourism Business

Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, Nr.Ashford

Prince’s Golf Club & The Lodge at Prince’s, Sandwich

Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa, Wilmington

Best Science and/or Technology Business

Aquaread Ltd, Broadstairs

Lightmaker UK, Tunbridge Wells

Sleeping Giant Media, Folkestone

Best Land Based Business

Chapel Down (English Wines Plc), Tenterden

Kelsey Farms, Canterbury

Winterdale Cheesemakers, Sevenoaks

Business Commitment to the Community

3663, Paddock Wood

Canterbury College, Canterbury

Golding Homes, Maidstone

Business Commitment to the Environment

Canterbury College, Canterbury

Sherwood Cricket Club, Rochester

Xmo Strata Ltd, Marden

Customer Service and Commitment

AmicusHorizon Ltd (T/A Avenue Lettings), Sittingbourne

Sleeping Giant Media, Folkestone

The Better Body Shop, Sevenoaks

Employer of the Year

Cabot Financial Ltd, West Malling

Markerstudy Group, Sevenoaks

The Albatross Group, Larkfiel

Success in International Markets

Aquaread Ltd, Broadstairs

Component Force Ltd, Rochester

Scarab Sweepers Ltd, Tonbridge

Entrepreneur of the Year

Steve Burnett, Compact and Bale, Hadlow

John Casey, The Mainstream Group, Sittingbourne

Gary Mayatt, Enevis, Dartford

Young Entrepreneur

Piperis Filippaios, uTargeting Ltd, Canterbury

Owen Hunnam, Vine Publishing Ltd, Sevenoaks

Anthony Klokkou, Sleeping Giant Media, Folkestone

Apprenticeship of the Year

Amelix Ltd /Nathan Jenks, Whitstable

Canterbury College/ Nicole Cook, Canterbury

Orbit South / Sheri Packham, Maidstone