GUESTS attending the launch of the 2004 Kent Business Awards will be hoping to join top companies in the fast lane.

Award-winning firms and organisations will be spotlighted at the launch of the prestigious accolades in Canterbury Cathedral's International Study Centre on November 11.

Guests who register to attend the free event will be given the chance to win an exhilarating day out at Brands Hatch for two.

Event organisers will unveil a record 15 awards, including new categories for Best Boss and Entrepreneur Of The Year.

Top business people taking part include Fiona Pollard who, with fellow director Brent Pollard, transformed the previously loss-making Hop Farm Country Park at Beltring, near Paddock Wood, into one of Kent's most successful attractions, bringing in over 400,000 people a year. The Hop Farm was named Company Of The Year 2003.

Linda Sinclair, director of Canterbury-based computer services company ADM Computing, will discuss the company's award-winning approach to achieving client satisfaction which helped it carry off the Customer Service Award earlier this year.

The inside story of how the Port of Dover is fighting competition from the Channel Tunnel and opening up new markets will be told by Richard Wilcox, director of finance and support services.

The port -- named Kent Company of the Year for businesses with 100 staff or more -- employs 6,700 people and supports another 15,000 jobs in the Kent economy.

The launch presentation lasts an hour and is followed by food and refreshments with a chance to network with judges and previous winners.

Martin Morrall of Meridian Broadcasting, and James Heming, a presenter of Invicta FM's Morning Zoo, will be guiding the event and interviewing leading business

Figures.

Tickets are free but places are limited - to book, log on to www.kent-business-awards.co.uk or call the Awards Office on 01273 207155.