TWO Kent business people have won top national honours.

Helen Harvey, from Tenterden, has been awarded a lifetime achievement award for her huge contribution to the recruitment industry.

David Higgins, from Medway, has become President of the Painting And Decorating Association.

In a long successful career, Helen, 52, has grown annual sales of teacher recruitment agency Select Education from £23million to £82million in five years, first as operations director and then managing director.

She also helped Sevenoaks-based domiciliary care agency Active Assistance - Coutts Bank Family Business of the Year - achieve 40 percent growth over the past two years.

Helen managed the process that led to high street recruitment agency Manpower winning accreditation to the British Standards Institution and Investors in People.

She has mentored numerous individuals who have gone on to senior positions in the industry.

Mr Higgins, a father-of-two, holds the office for a year. During that time, he has pledged to give priority to environmental improvements in the industry.

He also wants to promote training and development for apprentices and other people looking to make a career in the trade.

The father-of-two has been in the industry for more than 40 years and began his career as an apprentice. He is contracts director at Fairhurst Ward Abbotts, a painting and maintenance company in Greenhithe.