West Kent Business of the Year

Sponsored and judged by The Pantiles (visit website)

The West Kent Business of the Year is selected from the finalists of each business category excluding Entrepreneur of the Year and Outstanding Business Person which are both individuals' awards.

All the judges participate in the selection process led by Jeremy Aldous of Targetfollow - Pantiles.

About Targetfollow - Pantiles

Set in the historic heart of Tunbridge Wells, The Pantiles has for generations played an important and high-profile role in the commercial life of West Kent.

As the new main sponsor of the 2008 West Kent Business Awards, it is delighted to be celebrating other businesses that have made their mark and shown a real flair for quality and excellence.

The Pantiles, the renowned shopping and leisure colonnade that grew up around the Chalybeate Spring, boasts a fascinating variety of small specialist shops, cafés, restaurants and bars.

Famous for its combination of stylish shopping with distinctive, elegant architecture, the pedestrianised parade helps attract millions of visitors to the area every year from around the globe.

Having been purchased earlier this year by property group Targetfollow, The Pantiles is set to go from strength to strength in what has been described as "an exciting new era of success".

The group already owns the neighbouring Corn Exchange and aims to bring the two unique shopping destinations closer together through carefully planned, sympathetic improvements and a fresh commercial and retail strategy.

Jeremy Aldous, one of the judges from The Pantiles, says: "We're delighted to be sponsoring such a prestigious awards scheme, which celebrates the cream of West Kent's businesses and flies the flag for the local economy. The Pantiles is always very keen to support the business community and we believe these awards provide an excellent showcase for West Kent's many success stories, its innovative entrepreneurs and industrious, committed workforces."

He adds: "The overall Business of the Year trophy will go to a venture that not only has a track record of growth and dynamism but can also demonstrate a clear vision for the future. Above all, it must be a business that has star quality – the one with the extra ingredient that makes it really shine."

With a staff of 250, Targetfollow is a leading UK commercial property investment and development company specialising in major opportunities in town and city centres. Since 2006 it has also been expanding into Europe.