The Forester Business Awards 2010 have been launched to celebrate the talent, success stories, innovation and expertise of local companies.

There are ten categories and a panel of experienced, impartial judges will name the winners at a gala event to be staged next April at the Forest Hills Golf Club, Coleford.

Winners of this heavily publicised event will be showcased in The Forester, South West Business Magazine and The Citizen, as well as on-line at www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk and www.southwestbusiness.co.uk.

But it isn’t just the winners who benefit. Simply being profiled as a finalist, or an entrant can bring opportunities to attract new customers, investment, fresh blood and ideas.

And importantly for the economic future of Gloucestershire, all the awards help attract attention to this region’s outstanding successes and produce a motivational trickle-down, encouraging others to try and emulate those successes.

Forester editor Viv Hargreaves said: "Our thriving business community has so much to be proud of and I can think of no better time to spread the word that the Dean means business.

"The Forest of Dean is a hotbed of innovation on the business front and its movers and shakers deserve recognition for their efforts - particularly in the challenging economic climate that’s with us."

So take this great opportunity to celebrate everything your business has achieved in the last 12 months, and enter to be in with a chance of winning a prestigious Forester Oscar.

"This is an opportunity for local businesses to show just how good they are," added Viv.

"These awards embrace a broad spectrum of commercial sectors and are open to all, from multinational corporations to sole traders working from home who have turned a good idea into a viable business.