THE finalists have been chosen for this year’s Open4Business awards.

They now have an anxious wait to discover if they will scoop a top prize at next month’s glittering ceremony.

The finalists were chosen during a judging session at Weymouth’s Ocean Room on September 15.

They are now invited to the 04B awards dinner ceremony at Weymouth College on October 6. The event is sponsored by Enterprising Women Dorset.

The winners will be announced during the event.

Organisers had to extend the deadline by 36 hours due to the volume of businesses entering this year, including many applying for the first time.

This year also saw half of the entries come from outside the Weymouth and Portland area.

Julie Cleaver, Open4Business’s managing director, said: “Open4Business continues to bring out the best in business and everyone who is involved in the judging process learns something new about what is happening in local business.

“I would like to thank our award sponsors and the judging panel who had to make extremely hard decisions when choosing between the numerous entries. All of the entries were of a very high standard and contained lots of exciting information.” Open4Business (Dorset) CIC is a Community Interest Company set up to provide Dorset businesses with an inclusive and accessible Business to Business Festival.

Its members have access to a variety of forums to gain and exchange information and learning on relevant and current business and economic issues.

Categories in this year’s awards include the 04B Flame Awards, for the male and female who have made an outstanding contribution to local business.

The Flame Awards are sponsored by Sunflowers Floral Design and Pineapple Business Support. The overall business of the year award is sponsored by David Upshall Insurance. Additional dinner tickets are available at £55 each from Kieren Hasler at Weymouth College on 01305 208819 (for details see story, top left). The awards are part of the Open4Business festival, which hosts 27 events between October 3 until October 20. Booking details for the festival can be found at o4business.co.ukFor more information call Julie Cleaver, Popcorn Marketing on 01305 774629 or 07831 696167, email julie@popcornmarketing.co.uk or visit o4business.co.uk

Full list of finalists

1. Small Business sponsored by Hive Beach Café: Jalopy Pizza, Bridport; Wessex Echoheat Ltd, Bridport

2. Learning in the Workplace sponsored by Weymouth College: Swift Signs, Weymouth; Extra Mile Chauffeur Travel, Chickerell

3. Business Engagement in the Community sponsored by Basepoint Business Centres: Battens Solicitors, Weymouth; Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, Portland

4. New Business sponsored by Humphries Kirk, Solicitors: Alison Moore Counselling, Poundbury Filberts Fine Foods.

5. Export sponsored by Old Mill Financial Planners: SALT , Portland (Winners 04B Business of Year 2010); Global Marine Systems Subsea Training, Portland.

6. Tourism & Hospitality sponsored by Resort 2012: Weymouth Harbour Traders Association; Getaway Digital, Weymouth.

7. Technology & Innovation sponsored by DJ Property: Moving Content, Portland; SALT, Portland (Winners of Technology Award 2010)

8.Retailer & Customer Service Award: sponsored by Lloyds TSB: Ocean Spa, Portland; Heavenly Bump, Weymouth.

9. Entrepreneur sponsored by Equation Accounting: Freefly Multimedia, Sharp Events