The Rural Business Awards announced today that Amazon is the headline supporter of this year’s awards, with entries now open through 31^st May 2018. After a hat-trick of Rural Business Awards, 2018 will mark the Awards’ fourth year of showcasing the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy – a segment which employs in excess of 3.4 million people in over 750,000 businesses in England alone.

“Following a record year for entries in 2017, we are delighted to be supported by Amazon as we look to make 2018 our best year yet, with a new series of regional rounds ahead of our final ceremony to give our entrants even more chance to shine and celebrate their successes with other local businesses”, said Anna Price, Co-Founder, Rural Business Awards.

The awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with winners in the 13 categories - ranging from Best Rural Start-up and Outstanding Rural Diversification Project; through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and Rural Education or Training Business - decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.

“We’re delighted to be headline partners for the Rural Business Awards this year, to help shine a spotlight on the best of rural businesses – small and large alike,” said Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon. We know how important rural businesses are to the UK, so we look forward to hearing and celebrating success stories from across the nation’s rural business community.”

For the first time since launching in 2014, the Rural Business Awards will host a series of regional finals in the North, East, Midlands, South East, South West, Wales and Northern Ireland, throughout October 2018, ahead of the Grand Final next February, where winners from each category in every region will be announced.

Details of the Regional Rural Business Award Finals:

• North: 9th October - Last Drop Village, Bolton
• Midlands: 11th October - Eastwood Hall, Nottingham
• Wales & Northern Ireland: 16th October - Kimnel Hotel, Abergele
• South West: 18th October - Bath Racecourse, Bath
• South East: 23rd October - Denbies, Dorking
• East: 25th October - Trinity Park, Ipswich

In 2017, the Rural Business Award’s overall “Champion of Champions”, and “Best Rural Tourism Business” was Hoe Grange Holidays, based in Derbyshire’s Peak District. A working farm that had to curtail its dairy production, Hoe Grange Holidays prides itself on being accessible and eco-friendly, having identified a lack of suitable holiday accommodation for those with mobility challenges or visual impairments.

David Brown, Owner, Hoe Grange Holidays said, “The whole team here was hugely honoured by our awards success and it’s been a great ‘feather in our cap’ for attracting further business since then; we love to promote other rural businesses and use sustainable, economically friendly materials, so we see the Rural Business Awards as the ultimate recognition for rural enterprises all over the country. I would like to wish all of the entrants into this year’s awards the very best of luck!”

The Rural Business Awards Grand Final will take place on 28^th February 2019. Rural businesses can submit their award entries until 31^st May 2018, for any of the 13 categories via: https://www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk/enter.