Companies and entrepreneurs have more time to enter the most prestigious business awards in Kent after the deadline for KEIBA 2016 was extended.

Firms now have until Friday, March 4, to submit their forms for the Kent Excellence in Business Awards, which is exclusively online for the first time.

“Stop and think what it could do for your company in terms of additional advertising and promotion,” said Cllr Mark Dance, cabinet member for economic development at Kent County Council.

“It’s worth thousands and thousands of pounds and culminates in an evening of fantastic awards for companies doing well in Kent.”

Now in their eight year, the awards will be presented at a gala dinner at Kent Event Centre at the Kent Showground in Detling in June.

“I would thoroughly recommend entering KEiBA,” said Becky Campbell, winner of Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2015 ceremony.

“It was an amazing experience for our firm and has helped us win more business.”

Run by Kent County Council and the KM Group, KEiBA is open to businesses and entrepreneurs from across Kent, excluding those in the London boroughs of Bromley and Bexley.

After submitting their application form online, shortlisted firms will be visited by judges, with three finalists in each of 15 categories invited to the gala dinner.

Bob O’Connor, managing director of multiple KEiBA winners Howletts and Port Lympne Reserve, said: “The awards celebrate and recognise the best that Kent business has to offer.

“Being part of this brings great satisfaction and pride, helps boost staff morale and generates media coverage.

“KEiBA has helped us get our message out there over the years and benchmarked us against other businesses in the county.

“It makes our staff incredibly proud to know they are being judged as a quality business."

To enter KEiBA 2016, visit keiba.co.uk.

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 4.