A very warm welcome to the July edition of Dorset Business Focus.

Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who has entered the Dorset Business Awards, part of our 2023 Dorset Business Festival. The awards have an expert independent judging panel which includes Anthony Woodhouse, Chair of Hall & Woodhouse, Cheryl Hadland, Founder and Chair of Tops Day Nurseries, Martin Edwards, CEO of Julia’s House, Gail Ninnim, MD of Ocean Automotive, Former Sunseeker and Lotus CEO Phil Popham, Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce Sarah Howard, Dorset LEP Chair Cecilia Bufton, Dr Lois Farquharson, Executive Dean of Bournemouth University Business School, and Nicola Newman, LSIP Lead and Board Member of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnerships and Kingston Maurward College.

The awards offer businesses an incredible opportunity for recognition with their customers, suppliers and partners and is tremendous in terms of staff morale. It’s no exaggeration when I say business owners tell me that winning a Dorset Business Award was one of the proudest moments of their life. The judging process has already begun and finalists will all be invited to a very special Gala Dinner and awards ceremony as our guests in October when we will announce the winners. The awards are a great celebration of the fantastic businesses we have here in Dorset.

The awards are just one part of the wider Dorset Business Festival. Tickets for our conference are selling well, the Gala Dinner sold out on day one and the stands for the expo are also selling well. By popular demand, we have added an extra event, a Business Breakfast Festival opening event at Rick Stein’s in Poole on Monday 9th October with our guest speaker, renowned property expert Lucien Cook of Savills. Early booking is advised and you can see more information on the Festival on our website.

Ian Girling Chief Executive Dorset Chamber