Sunday East Kent Edition - 15/11/2009 digital edition

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KOS Media Business businessforkent.co.uk
A RECORDS centre holding cru-
cial biological and environmental
data was recognised for its work by
the KOS Media Business
Challenge Awards.
The Kent and Medway Biological Records
Centre, in Faversham, won the community
award after staff impressed judges with their
conservation effort for species and habitats
across the county.
Centre manager Dr Hannah Cook hopes the
recognition will raise awareness of the work
they carry out.
"We want to show people what we are
doing and make them aware of how
important it is to preserve wildlife and
its habitat," she said.
"Wildlife in Kent in particular is
under threat because of the pressure
for development. With the many plan-
ning applications going through, our
work is very important. Wildlife must
be taken into account when develop-
ments are planned."
Dr Cook, who has worked at the cen-
tre since 2006, said the team was thrilled to
have won the award.
"It means a lot to us," she said. "We're one of
the few independent research centres like this
in the country. Many are Government-run
whereas we are an independent organisation.
"We have many partners though,
including Kent County Council, the
Kent Wildlife Trust and Natural
England." Others are Medway
Council, the Environment Agency,
Heritage Lottery Fund and
European Interreg IIIA.
Dr Cook added: "One of the biggest things
for us is making the public aware of what we
do and the promotional prize that comes with
the KOS Media award will really help us
with this.
"We don't have a big budget, so things like
the business awards really help us."
The centre provides a data management
service by holding biological and environmen-
tal information which is made available to
local authorities, planners, conservation
organisations, academics, local naturists and
the public.
Her six-strong team has three core func-
tions: data collection, collation, and dissemina-
tion of the information.
The public also help by collecting informa-
tion about any species they may have seen.
Dr Cook said: "People can really help us by
collecting data in their own gardens. They can
send us photos, give us a call or drop in the
specimens for us to identify.
"A lot of people that have collected data in
their gardens have been referred to us by Kent
Wildlife Trust as that is the first organisation
that people think of, but they can come
straight to us.
"People don't always think one or two
records they have collected are important, but
they are � they can make a difference to
whether a planning application goes through
or not, so we encourage the public to get
involved."
To contact the centre call 01795 532385 or
email info@kmbrc.org.uk. More information at
www.kmbrc.org.uk.
`KOS Media award
raises awareness
of our crucial role'By MARIJKE COX
marijke.cox@kosmedia.co.uk
To view search `records'
@ yourkenttv.co.uk
Hannah Cook and Tony Witts
of the biological records centre
accept the Community Award
from KOS Media's Dean Headley
YOUNG entrepreneur Kate Belmonte has reached the finals of the
2009 NatWest Everywoman Awards.
Kate, from Gillingham, is shortlisted for the Royal Mail's Artemis
Award for the most inspiring entrepreneur between the ages of 26 and
35 following the success of her companies, LB Signs and The
Celebration Banner Collection.
Now in their seventh year, the awards recognise the UK's most inspi-
rational and successful of Britain's businesswomen, underlining the
work of Everywoman Ltd, a leading provider of training, resources and
support services for women in business.
Kate was nominated after a career beginning with a rethink due to
unexpected cancellation of her university course, forcing her to enter
the exhibition industry, only to be made redundant later.
So she followed her signwriting father's footsteps and launched LB
Signs for the corporate market, branching out into the Celebration
Banner Collection, offering bespoke banners for special events.
All this was achieved before she was 22 and all the more
impressive as Kate has suffered from painful psoriatic
arthritis since her early teens, forcing her to balance her ill-
ness, lifestyle and career.
And yet she has shown the product knowledge, customer
service and attention to detail to grow a successful business
with turnover doubling year on year.
"It's been an emotional rollercoaster getting this far," said
Kate."But I'm proud of what I've achieved in so short a time.
I've learnt the personal touch is really important.It may take
longer to build your following, but I look at my business for
the long term and this sets me apart from the competition."
`Everywoman' triumphs over
illness and setbacks
SO PROUD: Finalist Kate Belmonte
�1 MILLION
BUSINESS
CHALLENGE
TOP TEAM: From left, Teresa Frost, Tony Witts, Dave Giffen and Hannah Cook
INSET: Green silver-lines moth pictured at Little Barton Farm, Canterbury
Picture:TONYWITTS

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