Ferndown is the latest Dorset town to get its very own business awards.

The 2023 Ferndown Business Awards have been officially launched.

They bring the number of individual business awards staged by organisers MW Events across the region to 17.

Dorset Biz News is proud to be the official county-wide media partner.

Business leaders gathered in Ferndown to hear the plans for the new awards and learn how they support and energise the local business community.

Nigel Reeve, of MW Events, pointed out the influence local businesses have on their area.

He stressed how they create employment and, by working together, build stronger local economies and communities.

Nigel, pictured left, said: “I believe these businesses need supporting because they are the backbone of the local economy helping towns grow and prosper and fortifying the community.

“Locally-owned independent businesses bring much-needed originality and variety to customers.

“They stimulate competition plus innovation and, importantly, they help to keep our town centres vibrant places that locals want to shop and visitors want to enjoy.”

Nigel stressed the local awards were not like the standard evening events.

They are held at lunchtime with the winners being the stars of the awards, not the event.

Their role as grassroots awards was to specifically promote the range and quality of local businesses.

Since MW Events introduced the awards more than 1,000 business leaders have attended the award ceremonies while there have been over 2,400 entries and nominations.

Many leading Dorset businesses now support the awards as sponsors, returning year after year, and there are opportunities to get involved still with the Ferndown awards.

Other towns having their own awards include Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood, Christchurch, Wimborne, Dorchester, Weymouth/Portland, Bridport, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Lyme/Charmouth, Ferndown and Purbeck.

Entries and business nominations opened at the end of the Ferndown launch with just over three months until the closing date of Monday, October 2.

The awards ceremony is at lunchtime on Thursday, November 16.

The awards are free and easy to enter with a category for every business.

Entry forms and nomination forms plus entry guidelines and handy tips on writing a winning entry can be found on the awards website at: ferndownbusinessawards.co.uk