The Centre for Entrepreneurship at Bournemouth University is sponsoring an award as part of the Dorset Business Awards.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award is open to any company, team or individual with a BH/DT postcode or who is based in Dorset.

To qualify as a BU Entrepreneur of 2014, the individual or team must able to demonstrate the realisation of their entrepreneurial vision and have a clear plan in place to achieve sustained growth in the future.

“This is the seventh year the university has sponsored this award. said Mark Painter, Centre For Entrepreneurship Manager.  “We are keen to showcase and recognise local entrepreneurs who have made an economic or social impact in the region.”

The Dorset Business Awards (DBA), now in their twentieth year are being run by The Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)

There are ten award categories this year including three new awards:

• Business Growth Award
• Excellence in Innovation Award
• Dorset Export Award

All the awards celebrate local achievement and success in the various categories and are an excellent way for local businesses who enter to gain publicity and recognition in addition to being able to showcase their products or services to a wider audience.

Bournemouth University alumni have been successful at these awards with the most recent winner being in 2013 with Georgina Hurcombe from LoveLove Films  winning the Business Woman of the Year Award.

Adido won the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011 and Paul Woods of Astute Ltd in 2012.

Winners are also able to display the DBA KiteMark on their letterheads and literature.

The Dorset Business Awards 2014 competition runs until 12th September.

Winners are announced at the end of November at the Dorset Business Awards Gala Dinner held at The BIC.

Further information is available from the Dorset Business Awards website.