THIS year’s Open 4 Business awards will be officially drawn to a close with the last stakeholder meeting of the year.

The meeting, on November 15, at Weymouth College, will see sponsors, delivery partners and associates discussing lessons learned from the awards.

Here are the last sponsor profiles of Dorset firms that backed O4B on its 10th anniversary year and helped shape the success of this year’s awards.

Cocoa Media sponsored the Web Materials and Marketing Design aspect of Open 4 Business.

Dave Fowler said: “Having been involved with Open 4 Business since its inception, and seen all of the great things it has achieved in raising the profiles of individual businesses, and Dorset business as a whole, Cocoa Media was extremely happy to be able to contribute again in 2012.

“It is fantastic to see new business get involved, win awards and become award sponsors themselves. Open 4 Business does an amazing job bringing the business community together to share experience and knowledge.

“We do our best to provide design and communications media to Open 4 Business CIC, (Community Interest Com-pany) and enjoy seeing it put to great use by the stakeholders, management and board.

“We look forward to another year partnering Open 4 Business in 2013.”

The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) sponsored the Best New Business award.

It was formally launched in May 2012 and will be driven by the private sector with local authority support. The board consists of 10 business people, four local authority representatives, and one each from the Higher and Further Education sectors.

James Weld, of The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The LEP is a new organisation, with a flexible approach, able to respond to change and opportunities. It offers the opportunity for big picture thinking which transcends administrative boundaries and a way of building a more prosperous and dynamic local economy.

“The aims of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership can be summarised under the following four themes: “Competitive Dorset – unleash the potential of existing businesses, encourage the creation of new ones and attract investment.

“Talented Dorset – enhance the skills of our current and future work force. “Connected Dorset – improve electronic and physical connectivity, particularly through high speed broadband.

“Responsive Dorset – create the conditions for enterprise to flourish including a responsive planning and development system and a dynamic housing market.

“The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is pleased to be able to sponsor the 2012 Open 4 Business Best New Business Award. “Sponsoring the award allows us to celebrate the success of new businesses in the area whilst also promoting the auspicious work of the new Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.”

For more information go to dorsetlep.co.uk.

Be Social of Weymouth sponsored Open 4 Business’s social media. Andy Cooke said: “Be Social were delighted to step forward to offer support for Open 4 Business Dorset in 2012. As a joint venture company between two well-known tourism publishers Getaway Digital Ltd and Resort Marketing Ltd, both keen supporters and sponsors of the awards over the years, it was an easy decision for our new company to become involved.

“Our social media fan base on Facebook has over 63,000 fans across Dorset and we have been delighted to promote the various Open 4 Business initiatives happening across the country over the past couple of months.

“We strongly believe in the Open 4 Business Awards and have seen firsthand the positive impact they can have for businesses across the county.

“We have been delighted to lend our support this year, and will be looking forward to doing so again in 2013.”

Wessex FM has sponsored the best employer category in the awards.

Station programme controller Steve Bully said: “Wessex FM is the local commercial radio station for South and West Dorset and has been on air for 19 years this year.

“We are the only local commercial radio station with an exclusive licence to cover South and West Dorset and currently have three time the listenership of local BBC radio.

“We pride ourselves on loving life here and supporting local business, charities and community organisations. As part of the UKRD group, this year for the second time we were voted the Number 1 Best Midsize Company to work for in the Sunday Times top 100 list. “We believe this is down to our values approach to dealing with our clients and listeners. We believe that creating a great place to work drives our success and helps us engage with our clients some of which have been with us since the station launched in 1993.

“We are the most listened to radio station in the 25-54 year old age group in the area and this is down to our mix of music, traffic news and local news coverage.

“Wessex FM is proud to be based at our studios in Trinity Street in Dorchester and committed to offering a local radio service for the area for many years to come.”

SteveBulley, right, is pictured presenting the award to Createful’s James Newman, Michael Pursey, Garhei Tsang, Dale Humphries and Kriss Bennett.