Finalists from across the county have been shortlisted for the 2016 Oxfordshire Business Awards.

About 300 firms came forward this year to compete in 15 different categories and the finalists will now be looking forward to a night of celebration on Friday, June 17 when the winners are announced.

The awards were officially launched in December at sponsor Inchcape Mercedes-Benz’s showroom in Langford Lane, Kidlington.

This year the awards, now in their 22nd year, include a new Food or Drink Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by caterers Oxford Fine Dining.

Three finalists for each category were chosen by judges at the Four Pillars Hotel in Sandford-on-Thames yesterday, and the gala awards dinner will be held at the hotel on June 17.

Awards chairman Paul Lowe said: "It was a long and challenging judges' meeting to decide the finalists for the 2016 awards.

"It was great to see the breadth and range of businesses from all areas of the county.

"As usual many businesses that were not known to sponsors have been unearthed, many of whom we hope will become household names in future.

"Many businesses will have missed out on becoming a finalist but we would encourage them to enter again next year."

The finalists are:

  • The Hays Employer of the Year Award: Oxford Products, Newton Europe, The Rooflight Company.
  • The Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Apprenticeship of the Year Award: Norbar Torque Tools, Grundon Waste Management, Stuart Barr CDR.
  • The Oxfordshire LEP New Business Award: Fidelis Market Consultants, Aerial Motion Pictures, iRepairTech.
  • The Knights Small Business Award: CIS, Ue Coffee Roasters, Ross & Ross Food.
  • The NatWest Large Business Award: Hunts, Newton Europe, Oxford Products.
  • The Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year Award: Darren Aston of Aston & James, Stuart Barr of Stuart Barr CDR, Richard Marsh of CIS
  • The Oxford Science Park Innovation Award: Zeta Specialist Lighting, Oxford Space Systems, Gusto Telecom.
  • The Inchcape Mercedes-Benz Retail Award: Lily's Attic, Andy's Barber Shop, Bakers Butchers.
  • The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award: SeeSaw, The Hummingbird Centre, Aspire.
  • The Heart Cultural Events and Tourism Award: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, The Thame Food Festival, NiRa Events/Oxford Christmas Market.
  • The Oxford Fine Dining Food or Drink Producer of the Year Award: Ue Coffee Roasters, Hook Norton Brewery, Cotswold Fudge Co.
  • The Savills Property Award: MEPC Milton Park, Bicester Heritage, Heyford Park.
  • The Ridgeway Marketing Excellence Award: Oxford United, webexpenses, Perfectly Picked.
  • The Shaw Gibbs Business Person of the Year: Annie Sloan of Annie Sloan, David King of Project 12 Spray Coatings, Simon Biltcliffe of Webmart.
  • The Darke & Taylor Business of the Year Award will be announced on the night.

For full details visit oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk