West Kent Business Excellence Awards handed out

The winners of the inaugural West Kent Business Excellence Awards have been announced.

The Courier Media Group awards, held in association with the West Kent Chamber of Commerce, were held last night at The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells.

The packed event - which was attended by business people and professionals from throughout West Kent as well as local dignitaries – began with a champagne reception and three-course meal, before the glittering awards ceremony.

Winners on the night included Get Cruising for Excellence in Marketing, Hoopers for Best Retailer, Simon Hume-Kendall of Kent Attractions for Entrepreneur of the Year, and Taywell Farm Shop for Best New Business.

The overall winner of West Kent Business of the Year was Sevenoaks-based Kit for Kids.

Established in 1993 by founding directors Jan van de Velde and Graham Campbell, Kit for Kids began by selling the Snoozemat sleep mat for children into schools and nurseries. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength, building up three divisions, Education, Baby and Outdoor.

Considerable growth has been seen over the past two years promoting a move to new premises, employing key staff to enable the creation and development of strategic divisions, building a new warehouse, as well as the yearly development of over 100 new products.

Organiser of the awards and the evening's host, Alan Pocock, said he was delighted with how the event had gone: "In the midst of so much doom and gloom, it was wonderful to celebrate business in West Kent and shout about their achievements. It was a great night – many congratulations to all the winners."

See next week's Kent and Sussex Courier and Sevenoaks Chronicle for full details.