A POPULAR award category is returning as part of the Dorset Business Awards.

Organisers of the scheme, the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), are pleased to announce the return of the popular Business Leader of the Year Award for the second year running with a new sponsor, as well as the introduction of a new co-sponsor for the Creative Impact Award.

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has confirmed its support for the Business Leader of the Year Award and new sponsor Digipigz has joined forces with its parent company Liz Lean PR to support the Creative Impact Award.

The Business Leader of the Year Award, sponsored by Dorset LEP, is set to recognise an individual who has demonstrated exceptional vision and inspirational leadership, achieving measured and sustainable growth and is driving high performance within their organisation. It will honour an individual making a significant contribution to the wider business community and the local economy.

2017 business leader winner Warren Munson, from Inspire Professional Services, was acknowledged by judges for his passion and contribution towards not only his own firm but for his dedication to entrepreneurial events which serve the local business community.

Lorna Carver, Dorset LEP director, says: “Dorset LEP is pleased to be sponsoring the Dorset Business Awards once again. We decided to support the Business Leader of the Year Award because the success of local business is crucial to our work and this is a great opportunity to shine a light on some of the outstanding work of Dorset’s business leaders in helping to grow the local, regional and national economy. It is also a valuable opportunity for us to show our support for the Dorset business community.”

The Creative Impact Award welcomes Digipigz, a new service designed to connect businesses directly to the ever-changing youth market for key insights and research, to the award category sponsor line-up and alongside its parent agency Liz Lean PR. This category acknowledges first-class examples of innovation and originality in creative projects, campaigns or initiatives completed in the last 12 months.

In 2017 Bournemouth-based digital agency, Cold Banana Studio, impressed judges with work completed for its client National Grid. Cold Banana Studio worked on a technically challenging web development project to create a performance excellence system for 16,000 staff, creating an outstanding product and delivering immediate results.

Liz Willingham, managing director at Sandbanks-based PR and marketing consultancy Liz Lean PR, says: “2018 is a milestone year for Liz Lean PR, with the consultancy celebrating 20 years of delivering effective campaigns for a strong portfolio of clients on national, regional and local levels. Introducing Digipigz to our service offering, it is therefore important to us more than ever to recognise and celebrate the diverse range of projects, campaigns and initiatives delivered by our colleagues in the creative sector. The county has a strong creative offering with a dynamic community, demonstrating skills in everything from advertising and marketing to app and software development and we really want this celebrated and acknowledged.”

In association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, the Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk. The closing date for entry is Friday August 3. Entry is open to all companies based in Dorset with a BH or DT postcode and entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

For further information about the Awards, sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the Gala Dinner which will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 1 please contact the DBA team on 01202 714800.