Organisers of the Kent Excellence in Business Awards - better known simply as KEiBA - have confirmed the event will not take place in 2022.

The hugely popular business event has been managed by Kent County Council and the KM Media Group - publisher of this website - since 2009.

Forced to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, it returned last year but with the winners revealed simultaneously online and in the KM Group's newspapers. Traditionally, winners have been unveiled during a gala awards night, most recently at the Kent Event Centre in Detling.

A spokesman for the event said: "We are all aware that the business world has changed over the past two years and continues to do so in these uncertain times.

"To that end we have decided to take a break from the awards for the 2022 cycle, which will give us the opportunity to refocus, ensuring the awards are fit for purpose and enables us all to truly celebrate business success to the benefit of our business community, sponsors, and partners post pandemic."

The KM Group's editorial director, Ian Carter, added: "The KM Media Group is proud of its involvement with the KEiBAs since 2009 and to have been able to recognise the success of so many of the county's brilliant businesses.

"Kent Business, both online and in print, will continue to be the destination for news from the sector throughout 2022."

KCC will be supporting the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce awards in 2022.