COMPANIES who support others in the region will be recognised at this year’s Dorset Business Awards.

UK Health Insurance has introduced the Investing in Dorset Award to this year’s category line-up of the Dorset Business Awards.

Open to businesses of any size with a BH/DT postcode or that are based in Dorset, this award will recognise companies that realise the benefits of supporting local businesses and buying goods and services locally wherever possible.

This category aims to highlight the importance of creating positive business relationships with other firms in the county.

There are numerous benefits and opportunities that doing business locally can achieve, such as improved local employment prospects, higher productivity rates, reduced carbon footprints and lower delivery costs. Firms that are able to highlight the opportunities they have realised are in with a chance of award recognition.

The awards are run in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo.

Judges would like to see examples of how entrants purchase, use and support local products and services and, where possible, obtain details of the measurable impact this has had.

Hooshiar Mires, operations director at UK Health Insurance, said: “We’re delighted to come on board as a Dorset Business Award sponsor and to introduce a new category, which reflects our passion for supporting local businesses. As a responsible Dorset company, we have adopted a simple philosophy. If we need to buy something, be it product or service, the first question is, can we buy it from a local company? We would like to challenge all local businesses to adopt the same philosophy.

“Looking after our local economy is very important to us and this award is our way of showcasing and rewarding other Dorset companies that endeavour to spend as much of their budgets as locally as possible. Even if companies are at the very start of their journey towards spending more of their budgets locally, we are keen to encourage them to enter this award category.”

Organised by the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the awards are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk and the closing date for entry is Friday, September 9. and entrants do not need to be a member of DCCI

For further information about the awards, sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the Gala Dinner which will take place at the BIC Thursday, November 24 call 01202 714800.