The winners of the Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA) celebrated their success in front of a packed audience at The Historic Dockyard, Chatham.

Eleven businesses and individuals were picked by a panel of judges from 34 finalists. More than 200 business and individuals entered the awards, which is in its second year. It is staged and produced by Kent County Council and the KM Group.

The winners are:
Large Business of the Year
SCIPAC Ltd, Sittingbourne

SME Business of the Year
XMO Strata Ltd, Marden

Start Up Business of the Year
VirtualGym TV, Rochester

Best Adult Social Care Business
DGSM yourChoice, Dartford

Best Leisure and Tourism Business
English Wines Group Plc, Tenterden

Best Business from the Creative Industries
Wonderful Creative Agency, Maidstone

Employer of the Year
Denne, Sittingbourne

Business Commitment to the Community
Denne, Sittingbourne

Customer Service and Commitment Award
HolidayExtras.com, Hythe

Entrepreneur of the Year
Paul Gardner, Rochester

Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Charmaine Alicia Kemp, Dartford

Results were announced in The BIG Space, a building once home to naval ship construction and repair. A Champagne reception was held aboard the 19th century ship HMS Gannet.
The glittering gala was staged at the Dockyard, following its success in last year’s contest, where it was crowned Best Leisure and Tourism Business.
The winners received a specially created glass trophy, designed by renowned Kent glass artist Annie Ross

Kevin Lynes, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said:

“The awards are becoming a key event in the county’s calendar. For the second year running the KEiBA has been packed to capacity. It is great to see that, as a county, we have so many outstanding businesses and entrepreneurs. All of the entrants were of a high standard and the winners are truly exceptional. I think this shows that Kent is the place to do business.

The awards also offer a good opportunity for the winners and runners up to boost staff morale and help attract new recruits. Winning an award will also help businesses raise their profile and I look forward to many more entrants next year.”

Geraldine Allinson, Chairman of KM Group, said:

"This is the second year of the Kent Excellence in Business Awards and I am so pleased that the inaugural event went so well that everyone involved wished to do it again.

Last year’s KEiBA’s raised the game as far as awards schemes in this county are concerned. It truly was Kent and Medway’s business night of the year and the 2010 event is no different.

My congratulations go to the finalists and worthy winners for achieving so much in a tough economic climate. This is a great county to do business in and, better placed than most to take advantage of the many opportunities ahead."

KEiBA aims to recognise and reward excellence in Kent and Medway businesses of all sizes as well as individual awards.

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 before selecting the list of finalists.