Finalists announced for Kent Excellence in Business Awards

Twenty-seven companies and individuals have been selected as finalists for the first Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA), which attracted more than 200 entries from across the county.

KCC Alison Campbell-Smith, KCC Programme Manager said:

“It’s very heartening to see that in this current economic climate, so many companies and individuals have been recognised for their work and are determined to ride out the recession with the best possible standards.

Morag Welham, Head of Special Interest and Media at the KM Group and Project Manager for KEiBA said :

“The awards ceremony will celebrate all those who play an essential part in maintaining the Kent economy and the local business community. This also highlights how KCC and the KM Group can help local businesses by promoting their success.”

All of the entries went through a rigorous judging process, which rated entrants against pre-set criteria to select a shortlist for each category.  The judges then visited the short-listed entrants to carry out a more in-depth investigation through face to face interviews.

The awards ceremony will be held at Leeds Castle on Thursday 2 July, Winners will receive a trophy and it’s hoped that the awards will also boost staff morale and help attract new staff. Winning an award will also help businesses raise their profile in Kent. Tickets for the ceremony can be ordered from the KEiBA website at www.keiba.co.uk/awards

KEiBA is staged and produced by Kent County Council and the KM Group to recognise and reward excellence in Kent’s businesses.  The 11 categories, recognise companies of all sizes as well as individual awards.

The finalists are:

Maidstone
Courtyard Studios (Hollingbourne) – Best Business from the Creative Industries
The Wonderful Creative Agency – Best Business from the Creative Industries
Leeds Castle – Best Leisure and Tourism Business
RBLI (Aylesford) – Customer Service and Commitment Award
Steve Martin/ Xmo Strata Ltd (Marden) – Entrepreneur of the Year

Thanet
Meltdowns (Ramsgate) – Best Business from the Creative Industries
Beech Tree Total Care Ltd (Margate) – Best Social Care Business

Medway
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (Chatham) – Best Leisure and Tourism Business
MHS Homes – Business Commitment to the Community, Customer Service and Commitment Award and Employer of the Year
BACTEC International Ltd (Rochester) – Large Business of the Year
Shumi Hair and Beauty Group (Chatham) – SME Business of the Year
Optimum Fitness Software (OFS) – (Chatham Maritime) – Start Up Business of the Year
Bradley McLoughlin/ Trading4U (Strood) – Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Weald
English Wines Group (Tenterden) – Best Leisure and Tourism Business and SME Business of the Year

Tunbridge Wells
Halliwell (Elizabeth Finn Homes) – Best Social Care Business
Cripps Harries Hall LLP – Business Commitment to the Community

Dover
Home Service Complete Care (Deal) – Best Social Care Business

Swale
Denne Construction (Sittingbourne) – Business Commitment to the Community, Employer of the Year and Large Business of the Year

Shepway
Holiday Extras (nr Hythe) – Customer Service and Commitment Award, Employer of the Year and Large Business of the Year

Ashford
Gerard Coleman/Artisan du Chocolat Ltd – Entrepreneur of the Year
The Woodley Coles LLP (Challock) – SME Business of the Year
Red Alert Telecare Ltd – Start Up Business of the Year
Kate Austen/ Podplus – Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Sevenoaks
Guy Whitehead/ Armourcoat Ltd – Entrepreneur of the Year
Owen Hunnam/ Vine Media – Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Canterbury
Shake Shed Ltd – Start Up Business of the Year