Movers and shakers in the local business community joined forces for the launch of the 2009 Oxfordshire Business of the Year Awards.

Previous winners at the launch at Milton Park, near Abingdon, said their organisations had benefited hugely from entering.

Stuart Miller, of 2008 Business of the Year ByBox, based at Grove, near Wantage, said: “The most helpful thing was the pride it created among staff. It made us ask why we had won.

“We have the logo on all our stationery — it’s something that endures beyond the awards night.”

Richard Peacock, of Didcot-based Soha Housing, which won the customer service award, said: “It was great for our staff to have their hard work recognised.

“Week in, week out, people are answering thousands of calls, and it can be a bit of a grind. They do a terrific job and it was nice to have that recognised.”

Jemma Proctor, of design agency One, based in Summertown, Oxford, said winning the Creative award had helped the company bounce back after its premises were destroyed in a fire.

She said: “It was a way of saying ‘well done’ to the team.”

Claire Jarvis, of Chipping Norton Lido, which won the community award, said it helped give her organisation gravitas when it applied for grants.

Sponsors include the Oxford Mail’s sister paper, The Oxford Times, which also sponsors the Community category.