by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Be the best of the best in Olympic
year!

That was the powerful message from
last night’s launch of the 2012 Kent Excellence in Business Awards
(KEiBA).

The starting gun was fired on the
premier business accolades at the historic Shepherd Neame Old
Brewery Store in Faversham

More than 150 business and civic
chiefs heard new awards chairman Geoff Miles, joint owner of
Maidstone Studios and former KEiBA winner for his outstanding
contribution to the Kent business community, urge enterprises
countywide to enter.

KEiBA offered "an opportunity to be
recognised as the best of the best, just like an Olympic gold or
winning the Open," he said.

Sandra Mathews-Marsh from
Visit Kent and Victoria Pomery from the Turner Contemporary at the
launch of 2012 KEiBA awards

Sonja Wood, of Ashford-based Ecosan
Services, a sanitary and nappy recycling business and last year’s
winner of the Commitment to the Environment award, said it had
transformed her business. "We gained a lot of new customers. It’s
opened the door to places that would never consider us before."

Luke Quilter, KEiBA 2011 Young
Entrepreneur of the Year and managing director of Sleeping Giant
Media, Folkestone, added: "The award is fantastic. I would
encourage other businesses to get involved."

There are 12 categories to go for,
including a new one Success in International Markets.

The awards are produced and staged
by Kent County Council and the KM Group. Sponsors include Belmont
International. Santander, Lloyds TSB Commercial, Visit Kent,
Southeastern, Kent Reliance, Southern Water, European Regional
Development Fund, asb law, HSBC, Kent International Business,
Headley Brothers, Institute of Directors, Heart FM, EMC, The Kent
Foundation, and Kent Apprenticeships.

The 2012 presentation gala will be
held at Priestfield, Gillingham Football Club’s stadium, on June
28. The deadline for entries is March 9.

More details athttp://www.keiba.co.uk/