ORGANISERS of the Oxfordshire Business Awards have praised the “exceptional” companies and individuals who have been shortlisted in this year’s competition.

A total of 36 firms and business leaders have made the cut in 12 different categories, meaning they will compete for the honours at the awards finals next month.

Awards chairman Paul Lowe said: “It has been another fantastic year.

“Judging has seemed harder than ever and the quality and capabilities of those who have made it through to the final are all exceptional.

“The list of finalists is an impressive array of some great companies, large and small, and shows what a diverse and fantastic place Oxfordshire is to do business.”

One of the most hotly contested categories is the Oxfordshire Business Person of the Year.

Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas is battling it out with Steve Liquorish, managing director of office seating supplier CMS Industries, in Grove, and Peter Mullin, founder and chief executive of Dorchester leasing firm Leaseguard.

Mr Thomas said: “It’s very flattering to be put forward for this award, as it shows that we have made a difference within the football club.

“We have made enormous strides over the past 15 months and I’m pleased to say that’s down to the work ethic that runs right through everyone at the club.”

Mr Liquorish said: “It’s a great compliment just to have made it this far.”

The awards cover every aspect of Oxfordshire business life and feature well known names such as Blenheim Palace in Woodstock and Abingdon building firm Leadbitter along with smaller, more unusual businesses such as Summertown-based online pawnbroker Borro.com and Oxford sausage restaurant the Big Bang.

Max Mason, owner of the Big Bang, which is shortlisted in the Sustainability category, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s very flattering to be recognised in this way.”

A sell-out audience of 500 will attend the awards dinner at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, Sandford-on-Thames, on Friday, June 18.

In the running are: Oxfordshire Waste Partnership Sustainability Award: The Big Bang, Oxford Abbott Diabetes Care, Witney Blenheim Palace, Woodstock Oxford Brookes University Business School Innovation Award: DFX, Witney Bunnyfoot, Harwell Stewart Milne Timber, Witney The Heart FM Creative Award: Torpedo Group, Cassington Inchmere Design, Banbury Studio 8, Kidlington Four Pillars Hotels Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Award: West Oxfordshire District Council Witney Lakes Resort, Witney Blenheim Palace, Woodstock Ice Energy Green Property and Contsurction Award: Hallidays Developments, Wallingford Cottsway Housing, Witney Owlsworth, Henley Business Link New Business Award: The Meat Joint, Deddington Borro.com, Summertown Real Time Health, Oxford The Blue by Darbys Small Business Award: Key Agent, Botley Cotswold Fayre, Henley Oxford Technologies, Abingdon NatWest Bank Large Business Award: STL Communications, Witney Tibbetts Group, Banbury Leadbitter, Abingdon The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award: Helen & Douglas House hospice, Oxford Oxford CityFootball Club, Oxford Oxford Preservation Trust, Oxford Champion Recruitment Customer and Staff Care Award: Wrap, Banbury Fired Earth, Deddington Maylarch Environmental, Eynsham Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year Award: Neil Mcmanus, GHM Communications, Cassington David Watt, Corporate Innovations, Adderbury Jonathan Tibbetts, Tibbetts Group, Banbury Bottle Business Person of the Year Award: Kelvin Thomas, Oxford United Peter Mullin, Leaseguard, Dorchester Steve Liquorish, CMS Industries, Grove