With the annual business battle set to finish in two weeks, sponsors of the Dorset Business Awards, in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, are urging firms that have not yet submitted an entry to do so by Tuesday September 10.

The Awards have been the highlight of the Dorset business calendar for the last 19 years and this year looks set to be no different.  The winners will be revealed on Thursday November 28 at the Lighthouse, Poole, as part of an evening of quality entertainment in the presence of Dorset’s esteemed businesses.

Peter Scott, Chief Executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry, says: “We’re delighted with the sheer variety of businesses that have entered to date and we strongly encourage even more Dorset firms to enter this year.  Our mission since the Awards opened for entry in July is to find the very best examples of Dorset’s business successes.  There are award categories to suit every business, ranging from apprenticeship training and retail excellence through to tourism and community engagement to reflect the diverse nature of business in the region.

“The Dorset Business Awards provide a great opportunity to recognise business excellence, to inspire others and to gain public acknowledgement for the work achieved by firms and their employees.”

 Entrants can submit an application via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or by printing off an entry form and submitting a paper-based entry. Entry to the competition is free, and entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

 Categories open for entry are:

• Apprenticeship Training Award sponsored by Superior
• Business Engagement with the Community Award, sponsored by J.P. Morgan
• Business Woman of the Year Award, sponsored by Barclays
• Dorset Tourism Award, co-sponsored by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Liz Lean PR
• Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Bournemouth University
• Hays Employee of the Year Award – NEW CATEGORY
• KPMG & Lester Aldridge Company of the Year Award - NEW AWARD CO-SPONSOR
• ·Nuffield Health Excellence in Customer Service Award
• Princecroft Willis Family Business Award
• Retail Excellence Award, sponsored by the Dolphin Shopping Centre

 Shortlisted entries will be decided by the end of October and the Award winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner in November.

 The Awards are also backed by the South’s leading radio station Wave 105.  For further information about the Awards or to purchase tickets for the Gala Dinner, please contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.  Individual Awards are judged by key business people across Dorset who are chosen by the Award Sponsor(s).