The champagne is on ice and the preparations have begun for the biggest night in the Oxfordshire business calendar.

More than 160 companies and individuals entered this year’s Oxfordshire Business Awards, one of the highest levels seen in recent years and judges have been bowled over by the quality as well as quantity of applications.

After many hours of deliberations, the final three have been now been selected in each category, allowing the build-up to the gala event at the Four Pillars Hotel, Sandford on June 19 to begin.

Paul Lowe, chairman of the judging committee, said: “This has been a remarkable year for the Oxfordshire Business Awards.

“The standard of entries has been phenomenal and the judging process has been more challenging than ever.

“What it has proved is that Oxfordshire is a great place to do business. There is plenty of evidence that there are a great number of companies who are thriving despite the recession which is very encouraging for the future.

“Now we look forward to a great celebration of all that is good about the county’s business community next month.

“It promises to be a wonderful evening and we are confident that all the shortlisted businesses are great ambassadors for the Oxfordshire economy.”

Up to 500 people are expected to attend the dinner sponsored by previous winner, fruit and vegetable wholesaler Fresh Direct.

A limited number of tickets are on sale — for details see the website www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk

ROLL OF HONOUR: The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership Sustainability Award: Fired Earth — Adderbury; The Phone Co-op, Chipping Norton; STL Communications, Witney

The MEPC Milton Park Innovation Award: Zeta Controls, Bicester; Gladstone, Wallingford; P2i Labs, Milton Park

The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award: SeeSaw, Headington; Creation Theatre, Oxford; the Midcounties Co-operative, Oxford

The Heart Creative Award: Osprey Publishing, Botley; The Marketing Practice, East Hendred; The Marketing Bureau, Kingston Bagpuize

The Four Pillars Tourism Hospitality and Leisure Award: Bicester Village, Bicester; Cafe Loco, Oxford; Oxford Castle, Oxford

The Business Link New Business Award: Baby Boom Boom, Henley; Key Hips, Botley; Rugrats and Half Pints, Banbury

The Blue by Darbys Small Business Award: Leaseguard Group, Dorchester; Lawrence Baker, Eynsham; Corporate Innovations, Adderbury

The RBS Large Business Award: Tessella, Abingdon; Vale Housing Association, Abingdon; European Electronique, Eynsham

The Ice Energy Environmental Award for Property and Construction: Red Engineering, Bicester; Blenheim Estates, Woodstock; Cottsway Housing Association, Witney

The Champion Recruitment Customer and Staff Care Award: Nominet, Oxford; Anna Belinda, Oxford; One Man Band, Banbury

The UKTI International Trader of the Year Award: Smart Solar, Worton; Red Engineering Bicester; Williams Performance Tenders, Berinsfield

The Shaw Gibbs Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Chloe Thomas, Indium Web Management, Summertown; James Woollard, Polythene UK, Witney; Stephen Abel, Parcels 4 Delivery

The Bottle PR Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award Tim Michael, Camerabox, Thame; Peter Mullin, Leaseguard, Dorchester; Yolanta Gill, European Electronique, Eynsham

• The winner of the Business of the Year Award will be decided by all of the sponsors chosen from the finalists of the awards above.

They will be the business most able to demonstrate all-round achievement, a clear vision for the future, success against objectives and sustained growth.

There is no shortlist and the winner will be unveiled on the night.