Organisers of the Oxfordshire Business Awards have been given a major boost after Blenheim Palace agreed to become a sponsor.

Blenheim, which is the current Oxfordshire Business of the Year, and a former winner of the Property and Tourism awards, will also host the launch of the 2011 competition on November 26.

Chairman Paul Lowe said: “The committee had been keen to get Blenheim Palace to join the list of sponsors for a number of years but management wanted to keep on competing and adding to their collection of certificates and trophies.

“It was a great success to finally entice them on board, and fitting they will sponsor the prestigious overall Business of the Year.”

John Hoy, chief executive of Blenheim Palace, said: “We have taken part in the awards every year for the past six years, winning in both the Property and Tourism categories, and have found it a hugely important part of our business profiling.

“It was a huge accolade to win the 2010 Oxfordshire Business of the Year Award and we are looking forward to playing a part in presenting this prestigious award to an outstanding winner in 2011.”

o Companies and individuals can enter the 2011 awards by visiting www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk from November 26.