NEXT week sees one of the biggest events of the year in our region – The Westmorland Gazette Business and Tourism Awards 2012.

This glittering spectacle, to be held on September 14 at Kendal’s Castle Green Hotel, aims to highlight businesses which make a vital contribution to the local economy.

Managing directors, tourism chiefs and inspiring entrepreneurs from across the region submitted more than 120 entries as they competed in 11 different categories in The Westmorland Gazette’s third awards.

Judges have whittled down the entries to 33 shortlisted hopefuls, who will all be represented next Friday night.

Each firm will be hoping to come away with one of the prestigious prizes.

There are 11 categories: Hotel of the Year, Place to Stay, Innovation and Technology, Retailer of the Year, Training and Development, Team of the Year, Green Business, Small Business of the Year, Social and Community Development, Tourist Attraction/ Tour Operator of the Year, and the top prize - Business of the Year. Categories have been sponsored by some of the area’s well-known companies and education establishments - Banks Renewables, Furness College, Lamont Pridmore, Kendal College and Furness Building Society.

The event will be hosted by best-selling business author and presenter Geoff Burch. The BBC Business commentator and author of Resistance is Useless - the Art of Business Persuasion will be on hand to entertain crowds and celebrate the success of the region’s best firms. He said: “Some people want to form an empire, others have an enthusiasm for a subject, whether it’s carpentry or child care. Some people have taken on their parents’ enterprise and completely changed it, others want to give something back to the local area.

“These awards show there is a community of like-minded people striving to make it work for themselves and their employees.”

Don’t miss the following week’s Gazette for our supplement revealing the winners and packed with photographs and stories from the night.