MORE than 100 entries have been received for the area's top business competition, the annual Chamber Business Awards run by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

The 11 categories include most promising new business, exporter of the year, excellence in innovation and commitment to people development.

To be held on Thursday, June 9, at the University of Worcester Arena they celebrate the success, innovation and hard work of local businesses. They also provide the opportunity for companies to achieve local, regional and national recognition, as all finalists from seven categories are entered into the British Chambers of Commerce Awards.

Olivia Williams, events and training manager at the chamber, said: "The Awards are a spectacular event which offer a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of businesses in the two counties. Last year, we had 11 local winners, five businesses went on to become regional winners and two became national finalists in the British Chambers of Commerce Chamber Business Awards. In 2014, Titania, based in Worcester, became the national small business of the year, an incredible achievement. For all our winners, the awards offer the invaluable opportunity for PR and to boost morale, as well as being a great event where we can enjoy networking with the local business community and have fun.“

The awards are recognised as one of the most anticipated nights in the business calendar, as more than 500 people gather for a sit down dinner and enjoy spectacular entertainment, speeches and networking.

This year’s event is set to be the biggest yet and has a theme of sports and leisure with Colin Jackson, Olympic Silver Medallist, twice World champion and World Record holder for the 110m hurdles as guest speaker. Four local charities will also be supported on the night: Go Dad Run, Megan Baker House, The Princes Trust and #JSyoucandoit, which was set up in memory of a Chamber employee who passed away in June 2015, Jack Stephens.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Wednesday, May 4 and are expected to sell out. Tickets are £90 for Chamber members and £110 for non-members, or £810 for a table of ten for members and £990 for non-members. for more information, visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/awards or contact events@hwchamber.co.uk, 01905 673 600.