FINALISTS in the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards have been invited to an exclusive drinks reception with their award category sponsors on Monday November 17, to celebrate reaching the final stage of this prestigious competition.

Taking place at the Guildhall in Poole in association with the Bournemouth Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, the event will be attended by the great and good of Dorset’s business community.

Guests represent a range of industries including retail, hospitality, technology, telecommunications and manufacturing.

The reception will provide finalists with the opportunity to meet their award category sponsors and other shortlisted finalists.

The evening will also provide an opportunity for those who are new to the process to find out about the Gala Dinner: the Dorset Business Awards’ grand finale on Thursday, November 27.

The 2014 finalists are as follows:

Business Engagement with the Community Award, sponsored by JP Morgan

Business Growth Award, sponsored by Advanced Exchequer

  • IADigital Ltd, Bournemouth
  • Koh Thai Tapas, Poole
  • The Training Room, Poole

Dorset Export Award, sponsored by ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK

  • Kite Clothing Limited (Kite), Poole
  • Micro Nav Limited, Bournemouth
  • Think Research Ltd, Poole

Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Bournemouth University

  • Diamond Sporting Group, Poole – Sophie Christy, managing director, and the executive team
  • Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd, Christchurch – Trelawney Dampney
  • Intergage, Poole – Paul Tansey

Excellence in Innovation Award, sponsored by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Liz Lean PR

  • Permavent Ltd, Weymouth
  • The TwinsFX, Poole
  • Wessex Internet, Blandford

Hays Employee of the Year Award

  • Borough of Poole, Poole – Jeanette Yorke
  • C4L, Poole – Richard Halsey
  • Menzies East Cliff Court Hotel, Bournemouth – Paul Clarke

Lester Aldridge and Santander Company of the Year Award

  • Colten Care, Ringwood
  • Dextra Group Plc, Gillingham
  • The Koh Group, Poole

Nuffield Health Excellence in Customer Service Award

  • Health-on-Line, Bournemouth
  • KingsWood Day Nursery, Alderholt
  • Poole Housing Partnership, Poole

Princecroft Willis Family Business Award

  • Allum & Sidaway, Dorchester
  • Crest Pumps Limited, New Milton
  • RJ Balson & Son, Bridport

Retail Experience Award, sponsored by the Dolphin Shopping Centre

  • Allum & Sidaway, Dorchester
  • Animal, Poole
  • River Island, Poole

The Awards are organised by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and backed by radio station Wave 105. The gala dinner awards ceremony takes place at the BIC on Thursday, November 27.