THE shortlist has been announced for the Somerset Business Awards 2024 with companies, charities, and individuals from across the county vying for the honours, including some local to the Wellington and West Somerset areas.

Judges faced a tough time whittling down the huge number of entries for the 2024 awards, which are run annually by Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

The 2024 shortlisted nominees came from all corners of Somerset, including Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Norton Fitzwarren, Bradford on Tone, Roadwater, Wellington, Langport, Yeovil, Shepton Mallet, Minehead, Frome, Wells, Glastonbury, and Watchet.

This year is the 19th anniversary of the awards, which are again supported by main sponsor Albert Goodman.

The final will be hosted by Global broadcast journalist Cormac MacMahon in the Winter Gardens Pavilion, in Weston-super-Mare, on March 22, 2024.

The finalists will be announced at the beginning of February, following visits by the judges.

Chamber chief executive Emma Rawlings thanked everybody who had entered the awards and said the most hotly contested categories had included service excellence, small business of the year, and employer of the year.

Ms Rawlings said: “It was great to see so many entries from both chamber members and non-members from all corners of the county, representing a wide range of sectors and industries.

“In fact, there were so many high-quality entries this year, some of the categories have a record number of shortlisted entrants.

“I am really looking forward to the final as it always a great opportunity to celebrate the successes and achievements of Somerset’s many incredible businesses and organisations.”

Local entries which were shortlisted in their categories are:

Large Business of the Year (turnover over £6 million) sponsored by Stephens Scown

Bridgwater and Taunton College

Somerset Passenger Solutions

Synertec, Wellington

Best Use of Digital Technology Award sponsored by Teapot Creative

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset Passenger Solutions

Charity of the Year Award sponsored by Clarke Willmott

St Margaret’s Hospice Care

Employer of the Year sponsored by Blossom HR

Lendology CIC, Bradford on Tone

Singer Instruments, Roadwater

Investing in Somerset Award sponsored by Hinkley Point C

Bridgwater & Taunton College, Bridgwater

Somerset Automotive, Watchet

Start-up of the Year Award sponsored by Westcotts

Milton and Chambers, Wellington

Our Precious Earth, Minehead

The Giftie Company Ltd, Norton Fitzwarren

Apprentice of the Year Award sponsored by Weston College

Lendology CIC – Jack Parnell

Somerset Automotive – Luke Cardwell

Environmental and Sustainability Award sponsored by Gravity

Lendology CIC

Business Resilience and Growth Award sponsored by Barclays UK

Somerset Passenger Solutions

The Somerset Business Awards 2024 media sponsors are Newsquest and the Somerset County Gazette Series and Global.