THE deadline is looming for entries into the Wiltshire Business Awards 2017, and local firms are being urged to get their application forms in before it is too late.

Friday is the final day for entry into the 23rd annual awards, which have become one of the most prestigious events in the business calendar.

We are looking for winning businesses in categories such as Small Business, Start-Up Business, Customer and Staff Care and Services to the Community. The finalists will be invited to a black tie Gala Dinner at Center Parcs Longleat in May, where the creme de la creme of Wiltshire's businesses will be crowned.

Louise Cooper, Newsquest's business development manager and organiser of the awards, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the amount of high quality applications received from across the county, illustrating how successful Wiltshire is in producing great quality businesses.

"But it's not too late to throw your hat into the ring - the closing date isn't until Friday so there is still time to put yourself in the running."

The awards are judged and sponsored by business leaders from across the county - Mainline Employment, Thrings Solicitors, RSM, The Enterprise Network, MJ Church, Wiltshire College, NatWest, C3 Marketing, BBC Wiltshire and Corporate Events. A new sponsor for 2017 is Trowbridge firm apetito {corr}, which has been creating meals for care homes, local authorities and hospitals for more than 50 years.

Paul Freeston, chief executive of apetito UK, said: “We are pleased to be one of this year’s sponsors of the 2017 Newsquest Wiltshire Business Of the Year awards. At apetito we strive to make a real difference everyday both to our customers and our employees and as a Queen’s Award winning business we are excited about sharing the great work we do with companies and potential employees.”

In February, the judges from each of the sponsors will get together at our offices in Victoria Road, Swindon, to read through the entries, scoring them based on set criteria.

Entrants will receive an invitation to a Meet the Judges event being held at our Thrings Solicitors in Swindon on Thursday, February 23, where they can talk to the judges about their entry in more detail and answer any questions that may have arisen.

Applicants will be notified in early March about whether they are a finalist and the judges visit the businesses that month. Once all the visits have taken place the judges reconvene and announce their findings.

The presentation event takes place at Center Parcs, Longleat on May 5 at a black tie gala dinner attended by almost 400 people. The ceremony, hosted by BBC Wiltshire’s Graham Rogers, takes place after dinner followed by dancing to live entertainment until 1am.

Tickets are priced at £70 per head and are available through email at awards2017@wiltshire.newsquest.co.uk or you can call Marion Sumner on 01225 773600.

You can enter and follow the progress of the awards at www.wiltshirebusinessawards.co.uk