Final call for entries to this year's Shropshire Chamber Business Awards

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday and more are still needed for this year's awards.

Organised by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, the awards on June 14 will bring together hundreds of members of the Shropshire business community at Telford’s International Centre for a grand celebration of the best of the county’s commerce and industry.

A launch event, held at Salop Leisure in Shrewsbury earlier this year, saw the race for the awards on offer officially begin, with sponsors, past winners and associated businesses all present to mark the occasion.

Award categories include company of the year, business in the community, manufacturing, international trade through export, best online business, outstanding customer service, and tourism and leisure.

Others are technology enterprise and innovation, apprenticeships, best new business 1-5 employees, best new business 6+ employees, best small business 1-5 employees, best small business 6-20 employees, environmental technology, the John Clayton award, and new award for 2019 business and school engagement 1-5 employees and business and school engagement 6+ employees.

Shropshire Chamber events manager Teresa Rowe said: "Now more than ever businesses should be aspiring to raise their profile during uncertain times and that winning can be a real boost for you, your employees and your business.

"We particularly need entries for manufacturing and best online business. Surprisingly, we also need more entries for company of the year. I think many businesses think they may not be ready for it, but why not?

"If you believe in your business and your product then it is good to shout about it.

"Something which has been really positive is the amount of new businesses which have sponsored the event. We have pretty much wrapped up sponsorship but there are still opportunities in the tourism and leisure, and best online business categories.

"We want to put the fun back into the awards ceremony. We want to celebrate business but have fun at the same time. It will held in a different room this year so the event will have a different feel about it."

Shortlisted finalists will be announced on May 3. Each shortlisted business will then receive a visit from a panel of judges, before the winners will be announced at the Oscars-style ceremony in June.

This year's guest speaker will be Mo Chaudry who was raised in Shropshire and has become one of the richest and most successful Asian businessmen in the UK.

To enter this year's awards visit shropshirebusinessawards.co.uk