List Of Categories

You can enter as many different categories as you wish although you must submit a separate Registration Form and a separate fully completed entry for each category because each entry goes to a different set of judges.

The following notes are designed to help you choose which category or categories you might wish to enter. If you need help contact awards organiser Alan Pocock, A.P.T. Event Management on 01245 400877 or aepocock.apt@virgin.net

The overall West Kent Business of the Year is selected from the finalists of each business category, except for the winners of Outstanding Business Person and Entrepreneur of the Year, which are awards to individuals.

Please note that all information will be held in the strictest confidence.

		Best Business in the Community Sponsored and judged by Vantis Asset Finance Is your company actively engaged in putting back something into the local community? You might, for example, be helping out at youth centres, helping to renovate parks and woodlands, be providing training or re-training, donating used equipment, helping to support deprived children; the list is almost endless.

		Best Company Training Programme Sponsored and judged by West Kent College Employees are a primary asset of any organisation, whose activities and abilities can significantly enhance or impact upon business productivity and success. Investment in a financially viable, well structured, focused and results orientated training programme should evidence its benefits within individual employees personal development as well as company wide success.

		Best Growing Business Sponsored and judged by The West Kent Partnership Is your company achieving rapid growth in turnover, exceeding business targets, or increasing the range of products or services offered. Or perhaps your company is growing in people terms or through new strategic alliances with partners? To be eligible your company must have been trading for a minimum of two years at October 2008.

		Best New Business Sponsored and judged by The Royal Bank of Scotland Has your company been trading for less than two years (at October 2008)? Are you experiencing rapid growth? Can you demonstrate strong business acumen and entrepreneurial flair in areas such as product and service development, marketing and overall business strategy? Do you have a plan for growth over the next three years?

		Best Retailer Sponsored and judged by The Pantiles Are you a retailer in the county, proud of your customer service, innovative in your approach to selling and generally feel that you are at the leading edge of sales to the public?

		Customer Care and Service Sponsored and judged by Horwath Clark Whitehill Good customer care and service will be the very essence of why your customers come back to you time after time and/or refer you to their friends and contacts. This category is for companies with clear principles for delivering a first class service and achieving customer satisfaction.

		Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored and judged by Castle Corporate Finance We are looking for an entrepreneurial business person who has recognised a commercial opportunity and been focused on achieving success in its delivery. In so doing, they will demonstrate how the idea came about, the hurdles they had to overcome and the way in which they achieved success.

		Excellence in Marketing Sponsored and judged by Marsland and Company The Excellence in Marketing Award is designed to recognise the development and implementation of imaginative and successful marketing activities within the last 12 months. "Activities" could relate to an overall marketing strategy or the implementation of a specific campaign for a product, service or organisation. Whilst the traditional forms of marketing should not be discounted, the sponsors are looking for innovation and originality.

		Innovation Sponsored and judged by Mayo Wynne Baxter This category is designed to recognise innovative solutions right across the spectrum of commerce and industry. It is not so much the "size" of the solution but the innovation brought to bear. While an IT solution may well provide a contender, there are so many other areas of business where innovation plays an important role.

		Outstanding Business Person Sponsored and judged by IGF Invoice Finance Ltd Are you that special kind of entrepreneur who pushes obstacles to new ideas aside, is prepared to take calculated risks, and achieves success against the odds? Do you lead and motivate people to exceed mundane goals and targets? If you are, why not nominate yourself for an award in this category and serve as a role model to other budding business leaders. Or, if you know of such a person, why not submit an entry on their behalf?

		West Kent Business of the Year Sponsored and judged by The Pantiles 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.