HIDDEN business heroes have until January 28 to get an application in for this year’s Wiltshire Business Awards.

After celebrating 25 years of shining a spotlight on the most inspiring businesses across the county the deadline for this year's awards, hosted by the Swindon Advertiser, is closing in for 2019.

Applicants can enter for free to any of the 11 categories, including best start-up business, medium-sized enterprise, customer care and services to the community, and business person of the year.

Two new categories include Best Business to Work For, and Micro Business Trader award.

All winners will be considered for the Outstanding Excellence Award, with the winner crowned Wiltshire Business of the Year.

Pete Gavan, Swindon Advertiser Editor, said: “We’re hoping the 25th Wiltshire Business Awards will be biggest and best so far, showing off all the brilliant businesses across Wiltshire that deserve to be recognised.

"To be in with a chance fill out an application before the deadline to win an award from one of the most established and widely-recognised business awards in the county."

last year's winners spoke about the benefits entering has had on their business.

Ryan O’Hara, director of Swindon-based recruiter C4S, the winners of last year’s Learning and Development Employer of the Year Award, said: “Being part of the Wiltshire Business Awards has been an amazing journey for C4S Search.

“It has definitely boosted morale within the business and increased our corporate profile in Wiltshire.

"I have always held the Wiltshire Business Awards in high esteem. I actually put off entering last year because I felt we weren’t ready and then spent the next year making sure we were ready to enter the 2018 awards."

Samantha Bramley, founder of Chippenham-based sports therapist Active Potential Therapy, said: "The event last year was superb and to be finalists in four categories made the evening even more special.

"When we walked away with Runner up in two of those categories against such a high calibre of businesses it made me realise how far our business has come.

"The networking opportunity at the awards has meant we are now working with one of the main winners, being able to meet them face to face on the night and start a relationship worked wonders and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity."

To be in with a chance of winning an accolade go to www.wiltshirebusinessawards.co.uk before the January 28 deadline to apply.