SOFTWARE provider Advanced Exchequer is encouraging businesses that are contributing to the county’s economic growth to enter the 2014 Dorset Business Awards.

The company is sponsoring a new category in the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo-backed competition, the Business Growth Award.

The award, which is open to businesses with up to 250 staff, will go to a firm that has demonstrated strong growth, building on a track record of increased sales, profit or employment over the last three years.

Submissions will be reviewed by an independent judging panel and a site visit will be made to shortlisted entrants by representatives of the judging panel in the autumn.

To be in with a chance of winning, entrants will need to evidence:

  • The firm’s growth strategy and targets to date
  • How the firm has grown due to the strategy
  • How leadership and employee engagement have contributed to the business growth
  • How the business plans to sustain growth in the future
  • Changes witnessed in the firm as a result of the growth strategy Paul Sparkes, marketing director at Advanced Exchequer, says: “Companies must have an innovation and growth strategy, which separate them from the competition.

“As an organisation that proactively helps growing businesses to improve the way they operate through the use of our business and accounting software, we want to actively champion Dorset companies that are showing promising growth and which will become inspirational role models for SMEs within the local area.”

The awards are free to enter. Businesses can submit an entry via dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or print an entry form and submit a paper-based entry.

The closing date is September 12 and entrants do not need to be a member of the organising body, Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry. To reserve tickets for the gala dinner at the BIC on November 27, contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.

Improving on productivity

ADVANCED Exchequer’s multi-award-winning accounting and business software helps growing small to medium sized organisations improve the way they manage and operate their business, delivering time and cost savings by automating everyday tasks.

Flexible and easy to use, Exchequer supports all aspects of an organisation providing analysis, management reporting and productivity enhancing tools. Exchequer improves customers’ productivity by 47 per cent. Clients include Poole Lighthouse, Organix, Help for Heroes, Thomas Pink and GHD.