The Sid Valley Business Awards 2018 is a chance for your business to claim a spot in the limelight.

Sidmouth Herald: Molyneux Financial Planning director Denese MolyneuxMolyneux Financial Planning director Denese Molyneux (Image: Archant)

Each week, two sponsors will be setting out why they chose to support the awards, and the difference they can make.

Molyneux Financial Planning is sponsoring the sole trader category. Director Denese Molyneux said: “The Sid Valley Business Awards are a wonderful opportunity to further strong business relationships in the local community and to draw attention to some of the less well-known businesses in the area.

“Sole traders have been the main driver of employment growth since the last recession, with recent statistics putting 76 per cent of businesses as sole traders nationally.

“Molyneux Financial Planning started out as a sole tradership and now flourishes as a boutique business. We are therefore aware of the enormous challenges and pressures which face sole traders.

Sidmouth Herald: Steve Hartland of Marla Custom BlindsSteve Hartland of Marla Custom Blinds (Image: Archant)

“All businesses in this category will be among the best in their class – any other businesses would have fallen by the wayside.

“The local sole traders should feel a justifiable sense of pride in their achievements, and also in their contribution to the area’s unique identity. We wish them all every success, now and in the future.”

Marla Customs Blinds is supporting the health, beauty, leisure and sport category.

Owner Steve Hartland said: “I’m delighted to support the health, beauty, leisure and sport category to celebrate the wide range of businesses that make people look and feel great.”

To enter your business, collect an application form from Paragon Books, Potbury’s Funeral Service or Sidmouth Print in Sidmouth or The Rising Sun in Sidford.

A panel of judges will decide the winner in each of the nine categories and an overall winner from all 27 finalists – decided by a public poll – will be named ‘Sid Valley Business of the Year’.

The deadline for entries is Friday, October 20.

The three finalists in each of the nine categories will be announced in the Herald on Friday, November 17, and be allocated two tickets apiece to the awards ceremony at the Victoria Hotel on Saturday, January 6.

For more information visit www.sidmouthchamber.co.uk, look for SVBA2018 on Facebook or email svba@sidmouthchamber.co.uk.