ENTREPRENEURS are ready to attend tonight’s launch of the 2019 Oxfordshire Business Awards.

The awards, which celebrate the achievements of the business community, are now in their 25th year and the launch is taking place at the Sadler Building at Oxford Science Park, home to more than 70 companies and employing more than 2,500 people.

Following tonight’s launch at 6pm, businesses from across the county will be able to enter the 2019 awards, with a total of 14 categories open for entry.

Since they began in 1993, the business awards have recognised the achievements of thousands of county companies, including accolades for new firms, small start-ups and the county’s largest corporations.

Now – a quarter of a century on – the OXBA chairman Paul Lowe is hoping the event can continue to have a ‘positive impact’ on Oxfordshire’s business community.

Mr Lowe said earlier: “For 25 years, the awards have championed businesses and those individuals who have made a positive impact in Oxfordshire.

“At the launch we look forward to welcoming previous award winners, along with new and emerging businesses we perhaps haven’t engaged with previously.”

Categories for 2019 include; The Knights Small Business Award, The CIS Technology Excellence Award and The Shaw Gibbs Business Person of the Year Award.

READ AGAIN: Last year's winners at the Oxfordshire Business Awards

Last year was a success for Oxford Space Systems, based at Harwell Oxford. The company won The Hawkins Business of the Year Award. A list of categories can be seen oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk/awards