Enterprises and individuals across the county are celebrating glory in the first-ever Kent Excellence in Business Awards.

On a glittering night in the elegant setting of Leeds Castle, nine organisations and three entrepreneurs stepped up to receive a handsome glass trophy crafted by Maidstone artist Annie Ross.

The inaugural awards, jointly run by Kent County Council and KM Group, attracted 500 guests to the county’s business night of the year.

Around 200 enterprises entered the awards, with 33 finalists representing the cream of Kent business competing for the prizes.

Graham Webb, chairman of the judges, said: "The KEiBAs are the premier benchmark of business success, demonstrating the excellence across our county’s commercial life. The glass trophy is a coveted symbol of that achievement. Well done to all the finalists. You are an inspiration to us all."

Geraldine Allinson, chairman of the KM Group, added: "We've been reporting business achievements for 150 years and that's why staging these awards is a key part of what we do."

Chairman of judges Graham Webb said: "These are good times to be in Kent, underlined by the KEiBAs."

It was a special occasion for Geoff Miles, who with business partner Rowland Kinch, bought the Maidstone Studios for £4.25m and transformed its fortunes.

The former BBC producer of hit shows such as Top of the Pops, The Generation Game and Blankety Blank, has injected money, energy and vigour into a site that under different ownership might not have survived as a media beacon.

It has become a premier location for top shows such as Question Time. A Song for Europe and Trisha. It develops local talent and underlines media as a pre-eminent Kent business sector.

But Mr Miles is much more than a media entrepreneur, involving himself in voluntary activities promoting the Kent economy and the local film industry. As a Kent Ambassador, he waves the flag. "From a business point of view, it’s a fantastic place to be. Kent plc has a great future."

Other individual awards in the inaugural KEiBAs went to Gerard Coleman, founder of Artisan du Chocolat, the Ashford chocolate maker that featured on The Apprentice (he was named Entrepreneur of the Year), and Kate Austen, Young Entrepreneur of the Year who founded Podplus, a combined sporting footwear and medical treatment business, in Ashford.

Chatham Historic

Dockyard celebrated its 25th anniversary by being named named Best Leisure and Tourism Business.

Royal British Legion

Industries (RBLI) has another trophy to add to its bulging cabinet by lifting the Customer Service and Commitment Award.

RBLI has opened up new pathways of hope for people with disability or on incapacity benefit, finding them work in its own factory at Aylesford or with other employers across the county.

Hythe-based Holiday Extras, a made-in-Kent firm that has seen phenomenal demand growth for its holiday add-ons such as airport car parking and travel insurance, was named Employer of the Year, while Denne Construction, a 200-year old building firm now based in Sittingbourne, clinched the Large Business of the Year Award.

Film maker and specialist equipment hire business Courtyard Studios, Hollingbourne, was named Best Business from the Creative Industries. Home Service Complete Care, Deal, one of Kent’s largest providers of home care and support, scooped Best Social Care Business Award.

Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps Harries Hall works closely with local good causes and was rewarded with the Business Commitment to the Community Award.

English Wines Group, Tenterden, famous for its award-winning Chapel Down wines, was SME Business of the Year, while Red Alert Telecare, Ashford, which helps vulnerable people with hi-tech communication systems, was Start-up Business of the Year.