The nominations have been announced for the 2019 Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Business Awards for Excellence.

The Chamber will host the awards ceremony at Cowes Yacht Haven on October 18.

This year also sees the launch of two new awards — for micro business and small business in the excellence in customer service category.

The Chamber’s chief executive Steven Holbrook. “Some of the judges have had a real battle this year in determining their winners.

"I have been pulling in a lot of favours from some fabulous business people around the world, meaning that judging has taken place this year in Singapore, Thailand, Oman, Dubai and Ireland by French, South African, Irish and English judges, including three alumni from Oxford University.

"Moving a lot of the judging off Island last year gave us so much positive feedback that I wanted to raise the bar again this year, to once and for all make it clear to all that these are the most transparent and fair awards possible.”

The nominations for this year's ceremony are as follows:

Start Up Business of the Year:

Island VetCare

Linton Homes Ltd

Nosy Design

Solent Youth Services

The Morris Barton Apprenticeship Award

The Seaview Hotel

Stoneham Construction

The Retailer Award:

Cowes Town Central

The Garlic Farm

The Business in the Community Award:

Action 4 Support

Northwood House Charitable Trust

Southern Co-op Retail

UKSA

Vectis Radio CIC

The Tourism Business Award:

Farringford

The Garlic Farm

The Excellence in Customer Service Award – Micro Business

Bayliss & Booth

BeCalmed

Hillbans Pest Control

Real Employment Law Advice

The Excellence in Customer Service Award - Small Business

Farringford

The Royal Hotel

Top Mops

The Marketing & PR Award:

The Garlic Farm

The Wight Book

Visit Isle of Wight

The Growth Business Award:

MHI Vestas

Top Mops

WRS Systems

The Green Initiative Award:

Gurit

Red Funnel

The Hospitality Business Award:

Caffe Isola

The Havelock

The Royal Hotel

The Manufacturing Business of the Year Award:

IFPL

MedTec Design Services

MHI Vestas

The Technology and Innovation Award:

Gurit

The Seaview Hotel

Wight Computers

The Employer of the Year Award:

MHI Vestas

Mountbatten

WightFibre

The International Business Award:

IFPL

Innovative Physics

Isle of Wight College

The Micro Business of the Year Award:

BeCalmed

Hillbans Pest Control

Island Echo

Real Employment Law Advice

The Small Business Award:

French Franks

Island Roasted

The Tomato Stall

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