THE annual Open4Business extravaganza was launched at a business breakfast in Weymouth.
This year's festival, in September and October, will have the Olympic theme of maximising business opportunities from the 2012 games.
And Open4Business project group chairman Gareth Jones set the ball rolling at the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry's business breakfast yesterday at Rendezvous in Weymouth.
He told dozens of delegates about plans for this year's Open4Business - including the annual awards.
The launch came after the best Open4Business so far last year.
There will be more than 20 events in this year's extravaganza with a strong focus on maximising all business opportunities before and after 2012.
The awards will have eight categories and organisers aim to attract a record number of entrants. The awards dinner, the highlight of the festival, will again be hosted at Weymouth College.
The festival is taking in west and mid Dorset as well as Weymouth and Portland. Organisers also aim to encourage young people to become involved.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council regeneration and business development officer Gareth Jones is the chairman of the Open 4 Business project working group.
He will work closely with his counterpart from West Dorset District Council, Robert Moore, and three contracted companies to form the working group.
The companies are Popcorn Marketing, Creative Solutions and Poundbury Systems. Popcorn is handling marketing and public relations. Creative Solutions are responsible for event planning and the awards dinner.
Poundbury Systems is hosting the Open4Business website supported by Cocoa Media.
This year's Open4Business officially opens on October 6 with a launch at the Portland Spa. But events will start at the beginning of September and continue until the end of October.
The awards dinner will be at Weymouth College on October 16 when the eight winners will be announced.
There are also sponsorship opportunities for organisations and businesses. Three of the eight award categories have already been taken.
Anyone who wants to become a sponsor should contact Mr Jones 01305 838476.
Full details can be found at www.o4business.co.uk
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