Congratulations to all of the finalists in this year’s Dorset Business Awards – especially the three nominees for the UK Exporter of the Year title.

Poole-based firms Actisense – Active Research Limited and Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited are on the shortlist along with Trimetals Ltd of Blandford.

As headline sponsor of this newly created category for 2017, it was tough to pick the trio and all are richly deserving of their success in making the shortlist.

Our Managing Director Simon Boyd, who visited the nominees to assist in judging, said: “Well done to everyone at Actisense, Aeronautical & General Instruments and Trimetals on reaching the shortlist.

“It is recognition of the tremendous work their people are doing every day to help their firms grow through overseas trade.

“Exports are incredibly important to the UK economy. The UK’s huge trading deficits can only be addressed through the ingenuity, drive and determination of exporters who can turn this trading deficit into a surplus.

“We wish the UK Exporter of Year finalists, and all of the other categories, the best of luck and look forward to a great awards night on November 23.”

Actisense is a market leader in the design and manufacture of intelligent marine electronic products.

Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited manufactures a wide range of instruments and systems for the defence and civil markets worldwide, especially in the marine and aviation sectors.

Trimetals Ltd  is a leading manufacturer of garden sheds and secure storage units with clients across Europe, Japan, the US and Australia.

As a four-times winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade and a previous Dorset Business Awards winner, we felt it was important to sponsor this new category.

We’ve exported our structures to more than 140 countries across the world over the past century, helping build local infrastructure which in turn benefits the local community, other businesses reliant on domestic trade, and helps toward reducing the UK’s trade deficit.

Some 36 businesses are shortlisted across 12 categories this year, with the winners announced at the BIC at a gala dinner and awards ceremony.

The awards are organised by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Stuart Dixon, Head of Marketing and Communications and organiser of the awards from DCCI, said: “With a diverse range of high calibre companies with BH or DT postcodes entering, 2017 has been a great year so far for the Dorset Business Awards.

“The record number of entries which we’ve received highlights how significant and important the awards remain to be for the business community as a whole.

‘‘We always strive to build on what was achieved in previous years and aim each year for the awards to be better than the last.

“The Dorset Business Awards provide a great opportunity to recognise business excellence, to inspire others and to gain public acknowledgement for the work achieved by firms and their employees.

“We thank everyone that has taken the time to enter the awards and look forward to celebrating Dorset’s business achievement at the gala dinner awards ceremony in November.”

Visit the Dorset Business Awards website at www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk/2017/ to find out more and to buy tickets for the awards night.