by business editor Trevor Sturgess

More than 30 enterprises and individuals are hoping for a top award.

Proof that Kent is home to a wealth of great businesses is shown in the final line-up for the 2010 Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA).

A record number of more than 150 companies and organisations entered and, with some entering several categories, the overall total of entries has gone through the 200 barrier.

In all, 34 finalists have been chosen to compete for top honours in the prestigious competition run for the second year running by the KM Group on behalf of Kent County Council. Winners will be announced on July 1 at a gala dinner in Chatham Historic Dockyard.

Kevin Lynes, KCC Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said the finalists were great ambassadors for Kent business.

“It is great to see such as impressive response and I am really pleased to see entries from so many different types of business as well. These awards are growing from strength to strength and I look forward to seeing even more take part next year.â€

Geraldine Allinson, Chairman, KM Group added: “The quality of this year’s entrants was extremely high and I know that the judges had a tough time whittling the entries down to these 34 impressive companies and individuals.â€

New entrant The Plumbing Academy, from Edenbridge, is a finalist in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) category. Howletts and Port Lympne, visitor attractions with conservation in mind, are finalists again. They were unsuccessful last year, but are hoping to scoop an award in the Large Business category.

Sittingbourne-based Scipac, which produces reagents for medical diagnostic kits used in hospitals across the world, and has just won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is shortlisted in two categories.

Some of last year’s finalists impressed the judges again and are back on the list for the 2010 awards. They include the Leeds Castle Foundation, Royal British Legion Industries and Holiday Extras.

Other businesses up for awards include Xmo Strata (SMEs), the Bell Hotel (Leisure and Tourism), Porchlight (Adult Social Care) and Evolution Slimming (Start-Up).

In the Young Entrepreneur category, Kate Blyth, Dan Maudhub and Charmain Alicia Kemp will be vying for honours, while in the Entrepreneur section Wayne Hodgson, Paul Gardner and David Reekie will be doing battle.

Bookings for the final can be made at www.keiba.co.uk