THE finalists have been announced for this year’s Dorset Business Awards.

More than 100 entries were submitted for the awards and more than 30 judges have been involved in drawing up the shortlist.

Judges spent the past month analysing the entries and scoring them before compiling their lists of 36 finalists from across the county in 12 categories.

A Meet the Finalists drinks reception will be held on Monday, November 11, at the Hallmark Hotel Carlton in Bournemouth. The winners will be announced at the gala dinner ceremony at the BIC on Thursday, November 28.

The finalists are as follows.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD (sponsored by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership): Jamie Sergeant of ThisIsCrowd Ltd; Marianne Storey of Dorset Mind; Martin Edwards of Julia’s House.

DORSET ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD (Dorset Wildlife Trust and Kingston Mauward College): Black Pig Retreats; English Oak Vineyard; Green House Hotel.

EXCELLENCE IN EXPORTING AWARD (HSBC and PSP Worldwide Logistics): Aviation & Defence Spares Ltd; Modulift; Sontronics.

TEAMJOBS TEAM OF THE YEAR: Ceuta Group; Friars Moor Vets; Mazars Accounting and Outsourcing Team.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (Superior Seals Ltd): Emily Birkett of Outpost VFX; Natasha Hockey of Cobham plc; Ollie Dukes of Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited.

CREATIVE IMPACT AWARD (Liz Lean PR and Digital Storm): Aylesworth Fleming; Fireworx; Global Brand Communications.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD (Ouch Training Team): Greendale Construction Ltd; Health-on-Line; Investec Wealth & Investment.

LESTER ALDRIDGE COMPANY OF THE YEAR: ThisIsCrowd Ltd; Mploy Staffing Solutions; Precision Acoustics Ltd.

PKF FRANCIS CLARK FAMILY BUSINESS AWARD: Hoburne Group; Marsham Court Hotel; West Dorset Leisure Holidays.

ENHANCED BUSINESS GROWTH AWARD: Avec UK; Hoburne Group; Venture Engineering Group.

BV DAIRY INVESTING IN DORSET AWARD: Black Pig Retreats; Burnbake Forest Lodges & Campsite; Dorset Cruises.

EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING AWARD (REIDsteel and Atlas Elektronik): Actisense; Field International LTD; Precision Acoustics.

Stuart Dixon, head of marketing and communications at Dorset Chamber, which organises the awards, said: ‘‘From all of us at Dorset Chamber, we want to congratulate those who entered and have reached the penultimate stage of this year’s awards. The standard of entries this year was exceptionally high, so reaching this stage is a real achievement for all finalists.

“It’s fantastic to see a wide range of industry sectors based from all corners of the county represented in this year’s Dorset Business Awards. Each year we are astounded with the quality of work that is produced in our county and we are proud to represent the vast number of businesses who deliver it.”

Tickets for the awards dinner cost £90 plus VAT for chamber members or £100 plus VAT for non-members, or £850 plus VAT for a table of 10 (£950 for non-members). Visit dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk/gala-dinner or ring 01202 714800.