A NEW set of awards that celebrate the work businesses in Oxfordshire do to support charity has announced its first nominees, including a spot for the Oxford Mail.

The inaugural Local Business Charity Awards, sponsored by insurance brokers A-Plan and Jelf, are made up of three categories, two focused on companies and the other on an individual.

To enter, charities had to nominate an Oxfordshire business or individual, who has done an outstanding job supporting them.

If their nominated business wins, the charity will receive a donation of £1,000.

The Oxford Mail was nominated by Oxford Hospitals Charity. Earlier this month the OX5 Run, which the paper has worked in partnership with the hospital charity to put at Blenheim Palace since 2003, celebrated hitting the £1million mark.

Money from the 5k fun run has been used to help open Oxford Children’s Hospital and fund vital equipment.

Other nominees include Reed Employment put forward by Helen & Douglas House, the Westgate Centre chosen by Homeless Oxfordshire and Sue Towlerton from Infineum picked for the individual award by The Abingdon Bridge.

Finalists will be named on Monday, with the winners revealed at a ceremony on July 5.

Judges include Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson and Witney MP Robert Courts.