FORMER Conservative Minister Edwina Currie will be guest of honour at the Oxfordshire Business of the Year awards.

Mrs Currie, who caused a storm after issuing public warnings about salmonella in eggs, will be the after-dinner speaker at the awards ceremony staged by Business Link Heart of England at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, on June 9.

A graduate of St Anne's College, Oxford, she is now best known as a writer and broadcaster.

This year's awards have attracted a new sponsor, cable giant NTL, which has joined Rover as joint sponsor of the developing people category.

The new sponsorship deal was announced as thousands of entry forms were being distributed encouraging firms to enter the awards.

The awards, now in their sixth year, have become a showcase for the county's commercial talent, growing each year in size and prestige.

This year, Darbys Mallam Lewis, one of Oxford's largest solicitors in the commercial field, has joined Lloyds TSB as the sponsor for the new business category.

Other categories and sponsors in this year's event are: Customer Care (Four Pillars Hotels and Unipart); Export (Business Link and Grant Thornton); Innovation and Design (FOX FM and Newsquest, Oxfordshire). All sponsors contribute to the prestigious Oxfordshire Business of the Year Award.

Companies can get application forms from the Gateway Team at Business Link Heart of England on 01235 468000, or from www.hoe.businesslink. co.uk.

Businesses who are interested in becoming sponsors should contact Alex Gould on 01235 468100.

Story date: Wednesday 09 February

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