Vanessa Prenczek, managing director of Medway-based Prendon Panels, is the latest business woman to join the judging panel of the KM Bright Spark Awards.

Mrs Prenczek is conscious that as a female boss she is a rare entity in her sector and so is keen to boost girl power in engineering and scientific careers.

The KM Bright Spark Awards are open to primary and secondary schools across the county with the aim of increasing the cool factor of science. Students are encouraged to collaborate using cross-curricular skills in maths, IT, science and engineering and submit exciting projects in one of the three competition categories: Innovation, Investigation, or Invention.

Finalists will be invited to a Dragons' Den style event at which the champions will be presented with their award of £500.

Mrs Prenczek said: "I decided to support the KM Bright Spark Awards because I wanted to encourage more girls to get involved in things that aren't necessarily aimed at them. Being in a male dominated trade, you wouldn't expect a female to be doing my job, so I think it's important to encourage more girls to take part."

As well as the top prize of £500, finalists are also in with a chance of winning experiences hosted by the event's dragons.

As well as Prendon Panels, the other partners supporting the KM Bright Spark Awards 2017 include: Integrated Technologies Ltd., Hectic Lifestlyes, The University of Kent, Golding Homes, BAE Systems, Discovery Products, Benenden Hospital Trust, Floplast Ltd., Pfizer, Betteridge and Millson, and Snapwire.

To find out more or to enter visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.