IF you know a business that has got off to a great start in the past two years, it could be recognised with an award.

The Best New Business title at the South Coast Business Awards will go to a venture whose success so far has set the groundwork for growth.

The judges in this category will be looking for a clearly conveyed business idea and specific achievements.

The awards celebrate excellence across all the sectors that make up the Hampshire and Isle of Wight economy.

Businesses should be able to demonstrate evidence of positive change in the past 12 months, or a strategy for change in the next 12 months.

Principal sponsor Dutton Gregory invites any company whose head office is based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to enter or to be nominated.

Nominations will be considered by our judging panel and maybe subject to a “mystery shopper” visit by the category sponsor.

The judges will be looking to announce the three finalists in each category in the Daily Echo.

All three category finalists, plus one guest each, will be invited to join their category sponsors at the awards ceremony at the home of the Saints, St Mary’s Stadium, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, November 12.

The winners of each category will receive £250 of advertising in the Daily Echo or on dailyecho.co.uk.

They will also be featured in the category winners’ coverage in the Daily Echo and online at dailyecho.co.uk.

The awards ceremony will also see one company crowned Business of the Year Award. This overall winner will be chosen by the judging panel from all the category winners.

The other categories in the awards are:

  • Innovation Excellence Award
  • Service Excellence Award
  • Employer Award
  • Entrepreneur Award
  • Business Leader Award
  • Small Business Award
  • Business in the Community Award
  • Best Use Of Technology Award

You can enter online here.

The closing date for nominations is Monday, August 31.