Axminster businesses will be recognised for their service and contribution to the community in a new business awards initiative.

Marketing West Events, the company behind a series of successful local business awards, has launched the Axminster Business Awards.

The plan for the awards includes a networking breakfast at the Community Waffle House on Tuesday, September 14 and an awards ceremony in November.

The awards will also be streamed live online to reach the maximum number of businesses.

A website for the new awards has just been launched at www.axminsterbusinessawards.co.uk and entry forms will be available early this month.

Entry will be free and businesses can enter as many categories as they want. There's a list of the categories on the website, but if anyone wants to suggest additional categories they are encouraged to do so. Category sponsorship is also available.

The awards are being organised in conjunction with Totally Locally Axminster.

Barry Hedges of Totally Locally Axminster commented: "We are excited that Marketing West is bringing its excellent business awards scheme to Axminster.

"We are lucky to have a bedrock of independent local businesses that make the town the special place that it is and they are overdue for some recognition."

Nigel Reeve of Marketing West added: "The response to date has been great, especially after the last 15 months of lockdowns. Our first aim was to get a group of supporters together followed by starting to place the category sponsorships.

"The focus of the awards is to promote the range and quality of local businesses. We are deliberately holding the launch at breakfast time and the awards at lunchtime, instead of an evening ceremony.

"We want to retain the focus on the local businesses, instead of making the awards an excuse for a party."