THE GREAT and the good of the region’s business community gathered at the offices of leading commercial law firm Thrings in Swindon for the Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards finalists’ evening.

More than 170 entrepreneurs, SMEs and organisations from across the county – identified as potential winners by the awards’ judging panel – joined sponsors and invited guests to celebrate the ongoing excellence of business in Wiltshire on Wednesday night.

Despite the focus of the evening being on fun, entrants also had the opportunity to network with their fellow business professionals and impress the judges ahead of next month’s awards evening where the winners will be revealed.

Businesses from across Wiltshire are vying for top honours in seven categories, including Apprenticeship Employer of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Customer & Staff Care, Environmental, Medium Sized Enterprise of the Year, Services to the Community, and Small Business of the Year.

Winners in each category will gain automatic entry into the night’s most prestigious award – the Overall Excellence Award – which is being sponsored by Thrings, a long-time partner of the event.

John Davies, senior corporate partner at Thrings and part of the judging panel, said: “The Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards are the most admired and respected in the region, and it’s clear from the large number of high-quality entries we’ve seen that businesses are more determined to win than ever.

“With decisions about who will walk off with the silverware still to be made, the finalists’ evening was an extremely important part of the judging process.

“It provided those companies in the running with a huge opportunity to further impress the judges and convey a true sense of who they are, how they operate and why they are deserving of such a prestigious accolade.

“Thrings remains immensely proud of its long-term association with the awards, and we are thrilled that so many members of Wiltshire’s buoyant business community were able to join us at our offices at Drakes Meadow for what was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative evening.”

The Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards dinner takes place at Center Parcs in Warminster on April 17. For more information, contact Ursula Gawthorn on 01793 501874 or email ugawthorn@wiltshire.newsquest.co.uk.