COMPANIES are being urged to make sure they meet the deadline for the 2016 Oxfordshire Business Awards.

More than 130 firms have already come forward to take part in the prestigious event.

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

There are 15 awards, including a new Food and Drink Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by caterers Oxford Fine Dining.

Another new category is the Property Award, which is sponsored by estate agents Savills.

The deadline for entries is Monday, February 29.

Awards chairman Paul Lowe said: “Entries have been coming in thick and fast but you have to be in it to win it, so it would be great to have some more entries, particularly in the tourism, retail and property categories.

“We have an experienced team of judges and they are starting to sift through the entries.”

The next deadline for firms is Monday, March 14, for the completion of second-stage application forms, and this will be followed by judging visits in March and April.

Mr Lowe praised the local business community for the success of the 2015 awards, which attracted a record 350 entries, up almost 20 per cent on the previous year.

The Food and Drink Producer of the Year Award celebrates Oxfordshire’s food or drink producers who grow, breed, farm, make, create and supply food and drink products to the catering trade and retailers.

The Property Award will be given for the design, construction and refurbishment of commercial property throughout the county.

The awards have attracted new sponsors, including the Oxford Science Park, which will be associated with the Innovation Award.

The overall winner in 2015, Kidlington-based electrical contractors Darke & Taylor, which won the Business of the Year Award as well as the Apprenticeship of the Year Award, will return to sponsor the main category – an annual tradition.

The Marketing Excellence Award, which is to be sponsored by Ridgeway, will incorporate the old Digital Innovation Award, and the Apprenticeship of the Year Award will continue for its third year.

Former winners have urged businesses to enter the 2016 awards.

Lee McQueen, who won The Apprentice TV show in 2008, was named Young Business Person of the Year and his business, Raw Talent Academy in Watlington, was named Small Business of the Year.

A gala dinner will be held at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, in Sandford-on-Thames, on Friday, June 17, when the award winners will be announced.

For full details visit oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk and see Twitter #oxbizawards