SOMERSET'S biggest business awards are back - with a new category to recognise those organisations who have responded to adversity, such as Brexit or Covid-19.

Entries for the 17th Somerset Business Awards will be open on September 16, with new sponsors, new categories and a big gala awards ceremony in 2022.

The awards, organised by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, are to recognise the best of a wide range of businesses across all sectors in Somerset.

This year, there will be two new categories:

  • Employee of the Year - to recognise someone who has gone above and beyond their usual day job.
  • Rebuild and Thrive - to honour firms who have responded to adversity, whether that be Brexit, Covid-19 or something else.

Albert Goodman will again be the main sponsor of the 2022 awards.

Alistair Tudor, operations manager of Somerset Chamber, thanked awards sponsors for their support.

“I am grateful for the continuing sponsorship of so many of Somerset’s leading businesses who, like me, are keen to celebrate everything that is great in the county, as businesses begin to rebuild and recover from the challenges of the last 18 months," he said.

“The awards cover all business sectors across a wide range of categories and I would encourage all local businesses to enter the awards to share their own success stories and celebrate their achievements.”

Other sponsors of the awards include Enterprise South West, Brook Financial, PKF Francis Clark, Somerset County Gazette Series, Porter Dodson, Hinkley Point C, CETSAT, Garador, Heart, Clarke Willmott, Gravity, Elite Staffing Solutions, Teapot Creative, Weston College and Barclays UK.

Michael Cahill, from Albert Goodman, said: “The fantastic Somerset Business Community is bouncing back strongly and the Somerset Business Awards is a great way to celebrate the hard work, ingenuity and resilience our local businesses have shown during the difficult 18 months we have all had. Albert Goodman is extremely proud to continue our longstanding sponsorship of this event.”

The awards ceremony will take place on March 11 2022 at the Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare.