NEXT Wednesday the Federation of Small Businesses is holding its annual awards ceremony, celebrating the achievements of south Wiltshire's business community.

The awards are now in their fifth year and firmly established as an important part of the business calendar.

The ceremony is once again being held at the White Hart Hotel in Salisbury and everyone who has entered is invited.

Awards are being made in four categories: business with an annual turnover of more than £500,000, business with a turnover of less than £500,000, best new business, and training excellence.

Last year's winners were Salisbury & District Value Cars, Farmer Giles' Farmstead, Wessex Raceway and First Steps Nursery.

The awards are sponsored by the FSB, accountants Hugh Davies & Co, Business Link, the Learning & Skills Council and radio station Spire FM.

Spire FM station manager Ceri Hurford-Jones will introduce the people who are presenting the awards and announce the results.

FSB Salisbury and south Wilts branch chairman Peter Beck has been judging the businesses who have entered the turnover of less than £500,000 category.

"We have had 14 entries in that category and I have been impressed by all of them," he said.

"They range from a car repairer to a dog grooming business and from a dry cleaner to a mail order firm - from sole traders to businesses employing 15 people."

Accountant Hugh Davies is judging the businesses with a turnover of more than £500,000 and the firms who have entered this category include a letting agent, a vending machine business, a drain service firm and a website designer.

Mr Davies said the entries were very varied, but all were dynamic and enterprising.

Representatives of Business Link and the Learning & Skills Council are judging the new business and training excellence categories respectively.