The Oxfordshire Business Awards 2014 are now open for nominations

Now in its 20th year, these Awards have been recognising, rewarding and promoting the excellence of Oxfordshire-based companies. Organised and supported by 15 of the county’s leading organisations, the Awards are firmly established as a benchmark for excellence in today’s competitive business environment.

Chairman of the Awards, Paul Lowe, launched the 2014 Awards with a warm welcome to all returning sponsors as well as its two new sponsors, Ridgeway and Oxfordshire Apprenticeships. There are also two new award categories - The Digital Innovation Award and The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship of the Year Award.

The 2014 launch event was held in the beautiful surrounds of Blenheim Palace and was attended by over 100 business people.

With the Awards celebrating its 20th year, it was also pleased to welcome back some of the past winners from the last 19 years with representation from Ortho Europe (W. 2002) and Countax (W. 2004) along with previous Chairman of the Awards, Stephen Dexter.

Paul Lowe, the Awards Chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome two new sponsors to the 2014 line up of Sponsors. Both new Sponsors bring new award categories in two very important areas for Oxfordshire businesses. It is some testament to the strength of the Awards that we are launching our 20th year and the Awards continue to go from strength to strength with entries up year on year. When you reflect on the winners over the last 20 years you really do so see some of the great and good of Oxfordshire businesses today and many would admit to the Awards being an important part of their growth and strategy. I would encourage all Oxfordshire businesses to have a look at the award categories and enter. It is free to enter and the initial stage will take little more than 5 minutes”

The Award categories for 2014 Awards are:

The Oxfordshire County Council Energy & Environment Award

The Oxford Brookes University Innovation Award

The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award

The Ridgeway Digital Innovation Award

The Four Pillars Cultural Events and Tourism Award

The Heart Marketing Excellence Award

The Hays Customer Care Award

The Carter Jonas Export Award

The LEP New Business Award

The Milton Park Small Business Award

The NatWest Large Business Award