A finance chief who spearheaded his college’s push into Kent’s former coalfields has scooped a top national prize.

Mark Lumsdon-Taylor was named UK financial director of the year (public sector and voluntary) in the Business Finance Awards.

The director of finance and resources at Hadlow College was presented with a glass trophy at a glitzy gala dinner in London’s Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, this week.

Hadlow College now owns the former Betteshanger colliery site near Deal and has ambitious plans to transform it into a beacon of green technology and a mining heritage museum. The specialist land-based college, rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, has also opened an equine centre with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and won preferred bidder status for three campuses – Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Ashford – of the failing K College.

Mr Lumsdon-Taylor said: “I hope this continues to raise the profile of Kent and shows we are open for business in every aspect.

“I am delighted the judges took account of our innovative financial approach for challenging schemes,especially Betteshanger.”

He paid tribute to staff and students, adding that winning national awards was “a testament to the continued development of Hadlow”.