The search for the brightest and the best businesses in the region is stepping up a pace as the Thames Valley Business Awards celebrate their 20th anniversary year.

Entries close on September 26 and this year’s competition promises to be tougher than ever thanks to impressive growth in the local economy.

There are eight categories to choose from, ranging from the Technology Award through to Management Team of the Year and the Green Business Award.

There’s also an opportunity for local charities to fly the flag for their fundraising efforts and enter Charity of the Year, previously won by Helen & Douglas House Hospice and Style Acre.

This year’s awards ceremony in November will see Nick Hewer – of The Apprentice fame and now Countdown – as guest speaker, while popular broadcaster Fiona Bruce will be hosting the event.

Awards chairman David Murray, said:

“There’s a real buzz in the air about this year’s awards. The economy is going from strength to strength and this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate those home-grown success stories who do so much to promote the Thames Valley as a great place to do business.”

The full list of awards is:

Best Use of Technology – sponsored by Redwood Technologies
Charity of the Year – sponsored by James Cowper
Green Business – sponsored by Grundon Waste Management
Management Team of the Year – sponsored by RBS
SME of the Year– sponsored by James Cowper
Best Company to Work For – sponsored by Hays
Dynamic Business Awards – sponsored by Deloitte
Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Pitmans

Past winners have included Thatcham engineering company Xtrac, Reading-based Westcoast and CV-Library, from Fleet.

More details are available at www.businessawards.co.uk