BUSINESS people in the north of the county are gearing up for the Cherwell Business Awards finale tomorrow.

Winners will be announced during a black-tie gala dinner at Heythrop Park in Enstone.

Thirty finalists will compete in the annual event which recognises enterprise, from small businesses to large corporations and charities in the Cherwell District Council area.

Friday’s ceremony starts at 7pm with drinks and includes dinner and networking.

This year’s awards were launched in November at Norbar Torque Tools’ Banbury headquarters.

The company is the sponsor of the Overall Winner Award 2017.

There are 10 categories including Innovation and Creativity, Retail, Small Business, Established Business, Apprenticeship of the Year, New Business, Business Person of the Year, Micro Business, Employer of the Year and Charity and Community.

Last year’s winners included Bicester bakery British Bakels, Nicholsons Nurseries garden centre, leather bags firm J D’Cruz, Banbury-based heating equipment supplier Walraven, Andy’s Barber Shop in Bicester, Banbury & District Bus Project, Burgess Reclamation yard in Souldern, carbon fibre firm High Spec Composites, eye products firm Butterflies Healthcare and print management company Simon Biltcliffe.

Sponsors include A2Dominion Group, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Bicester Vision, NatWest, Spratt Endicott, Ellacotts, Bicester Village, Oxfordshire Apprenticeships and Begbroke Science Park.

See cherwellbusinessawards.co.uk for more information.