Dorset Chamber has launched the prestigious Dorset Business Awards 2024.
Its chief executive, Ian Girling, kicked off the Dorset Business Awards with guests, former winners and Festival Partners at the Dorset Museum and Gallery in Dorchester on 23 April.
Honours are up for grabs in 10 categories to celebrate the best of business and recognise success among firms and individuals across the county. New categories for this year are Social Impact and Digital and Technology.
The free to enter annual contest is back for its second year following a sell-out year and its return from a four-year hiatus during Covid.
Ian said: “The Dorset Business Awards are go!
“We have so many exceptional businesses in Dorset who deserve to be recognised for their innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and contribution to the local economy.
“The prestigious Dorset Business Awards are the perfect way to not only acknowledge their excellence but are also a fantastic celebration of the thriving, diverse and supportive business community we have in the county.
“Our independent panel of judges includes experts and leaders from across all sectors, looking to review the entries and celebrate the leaders in their field.”
Award categories were unveiled at the launch event. They are:
- Best New Business Award
- Best Place to Work Award
- Community Partnership Award
- Customer Experience Award
- Digital and Technology Award
- Environmental Impact Award
- Export Business Award
- Future Leader Award
- Scaleup Award
- Social Impact Award
The awards are open to all business in Dorset and are part of the Dorset Business Festival 2024, a packed festival fortnight featuring networking, thought leadership and celebrations during a packed itinerary based around an Expo, Conference and the prestigious Dorset Business Awards. It follows the success of last year’s, inaugural three-day event when more than 1,000 businesses took part.
Lester Aldridge is the Premier Festival Partner for the second year running. Blue Financial Planning, Bournemouth and Poole College, Dorset Council and YMCA Bournemouth have returned as Festival Partners. EV specialists, ElectriX, has also come on board as a partner for this year’s festival.
Grant Esterhuizen, Partner at Lester Aldridge said: “As the Premier Partner of Dorset Business Festival, Lester Aldridge celebrates the diverse tapestry of businesses in our region. We believe in the power of this collective diversity to drive innovation, prosperity, and positive impact. Supporting the festival underscores our commitment to fostering growth and collaboration across all sectors.”
Winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on October 10 at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth as the grand finale of the festival.
The chamber is the leading business support organisation in Dorset and the county’s voice of business.
It has nearly 700 members representing 37,000 employees and is the second largest BCC-accredited chamber of commerce in the South West.
Award entries open on 1 May and close on 13 June. Entries can be submitted online on the chamber website. The awards are free to enter and are open to all organisations, across Dorset.
Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/awards to enter, meet the judges and to find out more Dorset Business Awards.