Keiba launch Prestigious awards open for business
‘These companies earn good healthy profits and employ more people, expand and export’
Scores of businesses fought their way through snow for the launch of the most prestigious business awards in the county.
Dozens of guests made it to Chatham Historic Dockyard to mark the start of KEiBA 2017, which is now open for entries.
Now in its ninth year, the launch evening has been established as the first major networking event of the year on the Kent calendar.
Run by Kent County Council (KCC) and the KM Group, the awards are presented in front of more than 600 people at a gala dinner at the Kent Showground in Detling in June.
There are 16 categories to be entered, including a new construction project of the year prize.
By popular demand, SME business of the year has been split into two awards: small business of the year and medium business of the year.
Guests at the launch were treated to a reception in the Historic Dockyard’s Command of the Oceans exhibition.
They heard from past winners about the impact of being honoured at the the Kent Excellence Apprenticeship of the year Business commitment to the community award
Commitment to the environment award
Construction project of the year Customer service award Employer of the year Entrepreneur of the year Exporter of the year Large business of the year Manufacturer of the year Medium business of the year Small business of the year Start-up of the year Technology business of the year
Tourism and leisure business of the year
Young entrepreneur of the year in Business Awards (KEiBAs).
Ben Perkins, one of the team at Aero Legends Ltd, which won start-up business of the year at KEiBA 2016, said: “The main benefit has been the coverage but it was also a huge morale boost.
“Now, when we are recruiting new staff, we advertise that they are joining an award-winning team, which is great.
“We are also generating more footfall through the door and have a lot more customers in Kent now.”
Michele Harriman-Smith, chief executive of Childrensalon, which won the customer service and commitment award last year, said: “We feel really proud.
“We have won awards elsewhere but we feel really proud to win in Kent.”
HR director Denise Hamilton added: “It’s incredibly motivational. Everyone was really psyched, especially the customer service team. “It makes it all worthwhile.” KCC cabinet member for economic development Cllr Mark Dance said: “Excellence in busi-
See your free Kent Business in next week’s KentMessenger for a four-page report