The Best Mid-Large Business is a new category for the Echo-backed South Coast Business Awards – the Best Mid-Large Business.

The sponsor for this category is financial firm Smith & Williamson, a long-time supporter of the awards.

The category is open to businesses employing more than 25 employees with a turnover of at least £5 million, which have been trading for at least 18 months.

The judges will be looking for:

- Commercial success, growth and achievement.

- Future objectives for the growth of the business.

- Innovation and creativity.

Smith & Williamson is an independently owned financial and professional services group.

The firm is a leading provider of investment management, financial advisory and accountancy services to private clients, professional practices, entrepreneurs and mid-to-large corporates. The group’s workforce of 1,700 people operate from a network of 12 offices: London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Dublin (City and Sandyford), Glasgow, Guildford, Jersey, Salisbury and Southampton.

The South Coast Business Awards are organised in partnership by the Daily Echo in conjunction with Business South and Destination Southampton and are open to businesses in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Nominations are welcomed for businesses or businesses are able to nominate themselves.

Once received, the nominations will be considered by our judging panel which will draw up a shortlist of three finalist n each category.

All three category finalists, plus one guest each, will be invited to join their category sponsors at the awards ceremony at St Mary’s Stadium on Thursday July 11, where the winners will be announced.

The keynote speaker on the night will be Jez Rose, broadcaster, award-winning author and honeybee farmer.

The winners of each category will receive £250 of advertising in the Daily Echo or on dailyecho.co.uk and will also be featured in the category winners’ coverage in the Daily Echo or on dailyecho.co.uk.

For more details about the awards visit dailyecho.co.uk/business/southcoastbusinessawards2019/