DOES your business excel in customer service, boosting tourism or brining jobs to the area? - then we want to hear from you.

This month marked the launch of the 2017 Dorset Echo Industry Awards.

The awards, sponsored by Skyline, Weymouth College, HIX and Langham Wines, will see the best businesses in Dorset come together to celebrate their achievements.

And this year we want more businesses from the west of the county to enter.

Businesses in the DT postcode sector are therefore being encouraged to get involved. Firms are welcome to nominate themselves, or anyone outside a business interested in its impact on the wider community and local economy can enter a nomination in any of the categories.

For the second year, cluster attraction Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park and Jurassic Skyline are the overall sponsor of the awards and are urging businesses to show the county what makes them a worthy winner.

Marketing manager at Weymouth Sea Life and Jurassic Skyline, Raquel Cubillo said: “We are delighted that the Dorset Echo have decided to run the awards again, in recognition of the achievements of local businesses.

“The awards are a refreshing and brilliant way to network and for businesses to engage with their local audience and great to display across their business.”

And similarly for the second year Weymouth College is the event sponsor.

A spokesman for the college said: "There are a wealth of businesses in Dorset operating in a wide variety of areas, all making a great contribution to our local economy. The Dorset Echo Industry Awards provide an ideal opportunity to recognise and celebrate both their commitment and achievements.

"At Weymouth College we believe passionately in the partnership between local students, local businesses and the wider economy. We actively work with employers to ensure that the right training options are in place – for both school leavers and those currently in employment looking to consolidate and develop their skills or indeed retrain – to help grow the skilled local workforce of the future. We work with employers in industry to develop our curriculum offer ensuring we are future-proof, delivering education and training to meet needs.

"We hope that in 2017 the Dorset Echo Industry awards will once again recognise the efforts and achievements of those local Dorset companies and enterprises similarly committed to working towards a successful, well-resourced and productive economic future for Dorset."

The Industry Awards include the following categories:

Best Overall Retailer (sponsored by Fleetline)

Best Customer Service Provider (sponsored by the Dorset Echo)

Best Social Media Marketing (sponsored by Sherrens)

Best Business Development or Innovative Idea (sponsored by WPCC)

Best New Business (opened in the last two years, sponsored by Woods)

Best Contribution to Local Tourism (sponsored by Pengillys)

Best Product or Service (sponsored by Atlas)

Best Community Engagement Business (sponsored by Active Mobility)

Best Apprenticeship Employer (sponsored by Weymouth College)

Best Dining Provider (sponsored by Brewery Square)

Best Woman in Business (sponsored by Permanent Makeup by Claire Louise)

Businesses from the DT postcode sector can be nominated by sending 100 to 250 words by e-mail to debbie.hellaby@dorsetecho.co.uk with Industry Awards in the subject line. Up to three supporting documents may be provided as attachments.

The category, name, address, website, contact name and telephone number must be submitted with each nomination. The closing date for nominations will be Monday, May 1.

Visit dorsetecho.co.uk/competitionterms for full terms and condition details.