The Countryside Alliance Awards, also known as the ‘Rural Oscars’, are returning for their 14th year with nominations now open.
The awards are the alliance’s annual celebration of British food, farming, enterprise and heritage through small hard-working businesses.
They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination.
Judges in the Countryside Alliance competition will not just be looking for evidence of great produce, customer service and innovation, but stories of how businesses serve their communities.
A spokeswoman said: “One nominator wrote: ‘This business will not just go the extra mile. They will pick you up and carry you the extra mile.’ We want to hear about businesses that go beyond the call of duty.”
The categories for nomination are as follows:
- Local Food and Drink;
- Village Shop or Post Office;
- Butcher;
- Rural Enterprise;
- Pub.
Nominations are now open and will close on December 9, 2018, with regional champions announced in May 2019. The final will then be held in June 2019 at the House of Lords.
Countryside Alliance awards director Sarah Lee said: “These awards are a fantastic way to applaud our rural businesses for all the hard work that they do to help keep our local communities alive.
It is such an honour to be able to recognise the rural businesses that represent the best in Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit and who do a great job to promote our beautiful countryside.
“I would urge everyone who wants to support their local businesses and communities to nominate them and give them the boost they so richly deserve.”
Nominations can be made online on the Countryside Alliance website.
