THE 2017 Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards officially launched this week.

Now in their seventh year, the awards will be rewarding and celebrating the best the town has to offer in what is described as the “biggest night in Cirencester’s business calendar”.

Held at Corinium Museum on Wednesday night, the launch event included presentations from previous winners as well as committee members on the benefits of taking part.

The deadline for nominations is March 23, with the winners to be announced at an awards dinner in May.

The 2017 awards include three new categories: Cirencester Community Award, Skilled Trader of the Year and Young Enterprise of the Year, while Hospitality & Entertainment Provider of the Year has been expanded.

The other categories are Business Person of the Year, Team of the Year, New Business of the Year, Retailer of the Year and Professional Services Provider of the Year.

The chamber is also looking for further sponsorship for the event, as well as volunteers to join the judging panels.

Each panel will include a representative from the chamber, a representative from the business sponsoring the award, and at least one category specialist.

Judging will take place between March 30 and April 14. Last year’s ceremony saw more than 200 people pack into the Corn Hall in the Market Place with a raffle raising £700 for The Phoenix Gardeners.

BBC Gloucestershire’s Vernon Harwood has hosted the evening since it began.

Jan Sparrow, the founder of Cirencester Scene, became the first female president of Cirencester Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Simon Large following the annual general meeting last July.

Visit the website cirencesterchamber.org.uk for more information.