FINALISTS have now been announced for the 2018 Oxfordshire Business Awards.

Entries for the awards opened following the launch last year at the Sadler Building at Oxford Science Park.

Now judges have selected finalists from businesses and organisations across the county for the 24th annual competition.

The awards ceremony itself will take place on Friday, June 15.

Hundreds of people will attend the black tie dinner, taking place at Oxford Brookes University’s award-winning John Henry Brookes Building.

There are 13 individual award categories and all category winners have the chance to win The Hawkins Business of the Year award.

OXBA chairman Paul Lowe said: “I’m delighted that judges have selected such a wide and diverse range of businesses from different parts of the county.

“I think the selection of finalists this year reflects the diverse nature of Oxfordshire businesses.

“I’m pleased to see some of our past winners and previous finalists taking part, mixed in with a large number of exciting new entries.”

Mr Lowe said he and sponsors of the awards were now looking forward to the awards dinner on June 15.

He added: “The awards night this summer is taking place at a new venue at Oxford Brookes University where staff are very enthusiastic about hosting the event.

“We are continuing the success we have experienced over 24 years as Oxfordshire’s largest business event.”

It was a hat-trick of wins last year for Banbury-based construction firm Hawkins Group.

The firm won the NatWest Large Business Award, and group managing director Mike Hawkins was named the Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year, before the company won the Darke & Taylor Business of the Year Award at the end of the night.

A new hi-tech category has been created this year to bring in new entries.

The technology award has been backed by IT solutions company CIS.

The Faringdon-based company was established in 1989 specialising in IT solutions, services and consultancy.

The new award, called The CIS Technology Excellence Award, identifies and recognises an organisation’s focus on advancing its business through the use of information technology.

The Oxford Times sponsors the Charity and Community Award.

This year’s finalists are Donnington Doorstep, Restore, and Play2Give, run by Andy Baker. Last year’s winner of the charity category was Charlbury-based SpecialEffect.

Visit oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk

THE NOMINEES (and category sponsors)

HAYS EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 

Oxford Products

Ridge & Partners LLP

Nielsen

OXFORD SCIENCE PARK INNOVATION

Adaptix 
ZapGo 
Aigenpulse 

OXFORDSHIRE LEP NEW BUSINESS

TOAD – The Oxford Artisan Distillery
Ethos Technology
Aigenpulse 

KNIGHTS SMALL BUSINESS 
Seacourt 
CQR Consulting 
The Cocktail Service

NATWEST LARGE BUSINESS 
Oxford Products
Hedges Law
Audley Travel

SHAW GIBBS YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR 

Thomas Cutler, AGTC Limited
Paul Roberts, Aspire Oxford
Marcus Taylor, Venture Harbour

CIS TECHNOLOGY EXCELLENCE

Sesui
Vitaccess

OXFORD TIMES CHARITY & COMMUNITY

Play2Give

Donnington Doorstep

Restore

HEART CULTURAL EVENTS & TOURISM

Experience Oxfordshire

Oxford Christmas Market (NiRa Events)

Bicester Heritage

BRITA GREEN

Seacourt

Oxford Energy Academy

Royal Cars

SYNDICUT MARKETING EXCELLENCE

The Shake Shop

Pampeano

Critchleys LLP

BICESTER VILLAGE RETAIL

Specsavers, Bicester

The Old Flight House

The Oxford Artisan Distillery

SHAW GIBBS BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR 

Mike Lawton, Oxford Space Systems
Andrew Hammond, Oxford Products
Greg Inge, CQR Consulting