The Countryside Alliance Awards, also known as the ‘Rural Oscars’, are returning for their 15th year.

Thousands of nominations will be submitted; skills and produce, tradition, enterprise, and the people behind the businesses will be judged; and the champions crowned.

More than 17,000 nominations were received last year in 2018 alone, in what is considered one of the most prestigious and hotly contested business awards in the country.

The awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses.

They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers the chance to tell us why their favourite businesses are worthy of national acclaim.

Judges will not just be looking for evidence of great produce, customer service and innovation, but stories of how businesses serve their communities.

A previous nomination said: “This business will not just go the extra mile. They will pick you up and carry you the extra mile.”

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The categories for nomination are as follows:

• Local Food & Drink

• Village Shop/ Post Office

• Butcher

• Rural Enterprise

• Pub

Cornish MPs have taken the opportunity to express their support for the awards.

South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray said: “ The CA awards are a perfect opportunity for our talented rural businesses here in South East Cornwall and the wider county to receive the recognition they deserve. I would urge constituents to get nominating!”

Steve Double MP said: “ The Countryside Alliance awards are an excellent way to promote the local businessmen and women who are working hard to keep rural Britain thriving. Let’s see if we can bring a British title home and tell a positive story about Mid Cornwall!”

Scott Mann MP said: “ North Cornwall is fortunate to have lots of excellent rural businesses, that contribute massively to our local economy. The Rural Oscars give these businesses a chance to get the recognition they deserve on the national stage. Good luck to all nominations from our beautiful part of the country!"

Nominations are now open and will close on December 8 2019 with regional champions announced in May 2020. The final will then be held in June 2020 at the House of Lords.

Nominations can be made online at the Countryside Alliance website at countryside-alliance.org/nominate

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