Businesses in the borough will go head to head following the launch of Sutton Business Awards.

The awards were launched by South London Business in conjunction with Sutton Chamber of Commerce and the Sutton Guardian newspaper.

After its launch at a business breakfast in Sutton last week, 12 categories in which businesses will compete were announced.

Ross Feeney, Director of South London Business said: "The Awards will be held next May so it will be a great lead into the Olympics - see if you can get your gold medals before that athletes do."

One category they can all enter is the favourite business category. It’s a bit X Factor but instead of TV viewers it is your customers who will be voting."

Among the other award categories are Sutton Business of the Year, Best Small and Medium Enterprise, Best Business for Training & Development, Commitment to the Community, and Best Green Business.

All businesses based in the borough are eligible to take part and entry is free.

David Duncan, chairman of Sutton Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the launch of the Awards and urged businesses to tap into the PR potential offered by entering the awards.

He said: "Other boroughs have business awards and Sutton has never quite got its act together in the past so the Chamber is delighted to be able to work with South London Business and the Sutton Guardian to organise these Award."

The Sutton Guardian newspaper will be providing media coverage of the Awards and Dene Stuart, regional sales director of Newsquest, urged businesses to highlight their good news stories by entering the Awards.

He said: "The Sutton Guardian is delighted to be involved in the awards because they galvanise the local community and are really exciting."

Businesses can find out more about the awards by visiting www.suttonbusinessawards.co.uk