Next year’s Cherwell Business Awards is now open for entries and firms across the district are being urged to take part.
This will be the event’s second year and shortlisting will take place in February, following the January 31 closing date for entries.
The awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held at Rye Hill Golf Club in Milcombe on Friday, April 19.
Councillor Norman Bolster, Cherwell District Council’s member for the economy, said they hope for a repeat of last year’s success and added: “Cherwell is a hotbed of innovation and success, which is something we should all be standing up and shouting about.
“These awards not only give firms across the district a chance to shine but also offer a valuable networking opportunity.
“It is also a wonderful way to reward staff who are the backbone of business and without whom we would not enjoy such high levels of achievement.”
The event is organised by a partnership of CDC, Banbury and Bicester Chambers of Commerce, Spratt Endicott Solicitors and Bicester Vision.
Categories up for grabs next year are: small business, tourism, hospitality and leisure, large business, exporter of the year, new business, business person of the year, innovation, community, training and staff care award.
Finalists gain automatic entry to the second stage of the Oxfordshire Business Awards, in which Cherwell firms took five of the 16 available awards this year.
CDCis sponsoring the exporter of the year award, reflecting its wish for companies in the district to grasp more export opportunities and expand.
Other sponsors include Ellacott accountants, Bicester Village, Bloxham Mill, Cloud 9, Hillstreet Holdings, Sainsburys/Stockdale, OCVC and Norbar, which was last year’s overall winner and is sponsoring the category this year.
A new website has also been launched, where businesses can find out more about the awards and register their interest.
Ben Jackson, president of Bicester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The awards last year delivered some great exposure for the entrants and finalists.
“Entering for 2013 is a really good way of getting your business noticed and takes very little effort.”
For full details, or to make a nomination, email karen.matthews@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or call Karen on 01295 221855. Visit the {http://www.cherwellbusinessawards.co.uk/|Cherwell Business Awards} website for more information.