The Sutton Business Awards 2012 will be launched next week.

The awards, hoping to highlight the best businesses in the borough, have been developed and organised by South London Business (SLB) in association with Sutton Chamber of Commerce.

Open to all businesses based in the borough of Sutton and culminating in a gala awards ceremony, the awards will be officially launched at a business breakfast hosted by South London Business on Thursday, November 17, at Brasserie Vacherin, High Street, Sutton, from 8am to 10am.

Entry to the awards is free and all finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their company and its achievements as well as receive valuable media exposure during the competition period and after the final.

All award winners will also be automatically entered to represent Sutton in the 2012 South London Business Awards.

Ross Feeney, SLB’s director of business support, said: "Business award programmes provide an excellent platform for finding and promoting a borough’s business champions.

"Sutton is home to some fantastic companies and we should be using these to promote Sutton beyond its borough boundaries.

"That is why we are delighted to be able to announce the launch of the Sutton Business Awards which will provide an opportunity to showcase the borough's most successful companies."

For several years, SLB has been recognising successful businesses across south London and the launch of the awards in Sutton follow on from the success of similar gala events in Lambeth, Merton, Kingston, Croydon and Bromley.

The awards will be backed by private and public sector businesses, ranging from small start-ups to major international corporates, and their high profile will ensure that the glamorous gala dinner provides Sutton’s biggest B2B promotional opportunity.

Peter Pledger, Chief Executive of SLB, said: “Regardless of size or sector we want to reward and celebrate our business community - and acknowledge their success stories too.

“Recognising and promoting local businesses is key to the growing economic success of the borough.”

To find out more about the awards and how to enter call the SLB awards team on 020 8253 4231 or e-mail awards@southlondonbusiness.co.uk