THE Dorset Business Awards are moving to the BIC for a 20th anniversary gala event which organisers say will be bigger and better than ever.

The awards are organised by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo.

After five years at Poole’s Lighthouse, the 20th Dorset Business Awards Gala Dinner will be at the BIC on Thursday, November 27.

The event will be held at the venue’s Purbeck Hall in order to accommodate an extra 200 people, bringing the total number of business people and guests to 700.

Ian Girling, chief executive of DCCI, said: “The Dorset Business Awards is an integral part of the county’s business calendar.

“The gala dinner has become the single biggest annual business event held in Dorset, where companies come together in a joint celebration of all that is good for our county. “The awards gala dinner attracts huge interest each year and we are delighted to provide even more people with the opportunity to attend the event by moving to a larger venue.

“We are looking forward to working with the Bournemouth International Centre to stage a memorable event.”

Peter Gunn, chief executive for BH Live – the trust which runs the BIC – said: “We are delighted this prestigious event will be returning to Bournemouth and the BIC, and are very much looking forward to welcoming business leaders from across the region for what promises to be a fantastic event.”

Entries for this year’s competition are set to open on Monday, June 23 and there are award category sponsorships available. Award sponsors benefit from extensive PR coverage, high level networking and one-to-one contact with award entrants from June until January 2015.

For information, contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812 or email shirley.ewart@dcci.co.uk