A YOUNG man who was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards for his Levels Lamb enterprise this year said that it is a great boost to his confidence.

Writing on the website for the awards, which are now open for 2017 entries, fourth generation farmer Howard Tratt said he would highly recommend entering the competition for the recognition it brought to young people's talent.

Another past winner and now award sponsor is Bridgwater-based Micron Bio-Systems whose sales manager Mike Cox said the process of entering brought unexpected benefits of a chance to pause, take stock and invite feedback from colleagues and customers.

After this year's success Sedgemoor District Council is calling on more businesses, big and small, to enter and is particularly keen to see entries from across the district and from young entrepreneurs with new ideas.

The benefits of entering are: free publicity, staff motivation, analysis and the chance to spend an evening in the company of other successful local businesses.

A spokesman from the council said the recent Sedgemoor Business Conference had highlighted the size and scale of some of the most successful enterprises in the area and it would be good to see them recognised locally.
"In response to feedback we have had, the organising committee, which we sit on, have simplified the entry process as we know how incredibly busy everyone is these days. 
"Having said that we have also seen what a difference an award can make to the winning businesses so we would strongly urge any company to consider applying. 
"We're especially proud to sponsor the 'Small Business of the Year' award as we know small businesses are often the backbone of their community, help to bring real diversity to the local economy as well as employing many local people."

The 2017 Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards Dinner will be on March 23 at the McMillan Theatre hosted by BBC Somerset's Claire Carter with leadership guru Col Michael Kingscote as speaker.

For details of how to enter, visit sedgemoorbusinessawards.co.uk