THE Kent Exporter of the Year competition is returning after an absence from the county's business calendar of more than two years. But the venue for the final will not be the traditional cross-Channel ferry but the Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone.

The event, run in conjunction with Shepway Business Centre, will be part of the Shepway Business to Business Exhibition being held on September 19. Candidates will be interviewed during the day, with prizes presented at a dinner in the evening.

Organiser Stuart Brown said: "I appreciate that this is a change from our traditional venue but my priority has been to hold the competition and hopefully ensure its future in spite of a much reduced budget."

Sponsors include Micro Medical, Gillingham - a former winner - Shepway Business Centre, Barclays Bank and the Kent Messenger Group.