THE first stage of this year's Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards is well under way with judges meeting to consider all the applications.

More than 50 businesses have entered the competition and 107 have been entered into the eight categories in a bid to be named winner of the most prestigious business awards in the county, now in its 22nd year and developed by Newsquest Wiltshire.

Judges met at the Swindon Advertiser to read the applications and rate them using a score sheet before they decide which companies to visit and who to shortlist.

The awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held at Center Parcs in Longleat Forest on Friday, April 15.

One of the 11 judges is Ramona Derbyshire, a partner at Thrings Solicitors in Swindon.

She said: “The awards are really inspiring. This person started his business when he was 16 in a dorm building a computer, it is fascinating

“What makes application standout is when you see a really good business model and there is something a little bit different about the plans for their future, products they are selling or how they might be treating their staff or how they deal with their customers.

“There is lots to read, lots of different styles of entries and lots of new businesses we have not seen before, which is great. Some returning which is equally nice to see how they have changed over the years.”

The newest judge to join the panel and join sponsors such as RSM, Wiltshire College and NatWest is Paula Church, director of MJ Church, who admitted the task is slightly daunting because of the high standards of entries.

She said: “Some things just leap out to you. There have been a couple that have really stood out to me but then when I got further on they was a couple more, so it is really difficult to judge.

“We were involved with the Bath Business Awards last year, as we will be again this year, but with Wiltshire this is far more involved.”

Louise Cooper added: “The judges are getting a feel for the business before they go out and meet them at the meet the judges event on February 25 at Thrings Solicitors. A massive thank you to all our sponsors.”

  • The shortlist of finalists will be announced on our website in March