In case you missed it, the finalists have been announced in this year's prestigious Somerset Business Awards and they include Bridges of Midsomer Norton.

Judges faced a tough time whittling down a record-breaking number of entries in this year's awards, which are run annually by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

The 2022 finalists come from all corners of the county, including Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Norton St Philip, Mark, Wiveliscombe, Weston-super-Mare, Shepton Mallet, Bradford-on-Tone, Westonzoyland, Langport, Glastonbury, Roadwater, Midsomer Norton, Ilminster, Highbridge and Cheddar.

This year is the 17th anniversary of the awards with the grand final taking place at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, in Weston-super-Mare, on March 11, hosted by BBC presenter and journalist, Claire Carter.

Somerset Chamber Executive Director, Emma Rawlings, thanked everyone who had entered the awards and said the most hotly contested categories had included Medium Business of the Year, Service Excellence and Environmental Achievement.

She said: "It was great to see so many entries from both Chamber members and non-members from all corners of the county and representing a wide range of sectors and industries.

"These awards are the largest in Somerset and are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that is great about our diverse business community and I'm looking forward to the grand final next month."

The 2022 finalists are:

Albert Goodman Family Business of the Year (sponsored by Albert Goodman):

J&K Aquatics, Bridgwater

Musgrove Willows, Westonzoyland

Protek Products, Shepton Mallet

Small Business of the Year (sponsored by TDA):

AIP Welding Supplies Ltd, Bridgwater

Introtweet Ltd, Taunton

Reflex Medical Limited, Shepton Mallet

Medium Business of the Year (sponsored by Brook Financial Management):

Hippychick Ltd, Bridgwater

Lendology CIC, Bradford-on-Tone

Haven Timber Holdings Ltd, Norton St Philip

Large Business of the Year (sponsored by PKF Francis Clark):

Bradfords Building Supplies, Yeovil

Regency Purchasing Group, Weston-super-Mare

Ten Three Cleaning Ltd, Yeovil

Charity of the Year (sponsored by Clarke Willmott):

bibic, Langport

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Wellington

St Margaret's Hospice Care, Taunton

Best Use of Technology (sponsored by Porter Dodson):

Berry & Escott, Bridgwater

Rotec Hydraulics Ltd, Taunton

Talick Group, Glastonbury

Employer of the Year (sponsored by Elite Staffing Solutions): Alpha Housing Services Ltd, Taunton Singer Instruments, Roadwater WPA, Taunton Investing in Somerset (sponsored by Hinkley Point C): Bridges Electrical Engineers Ltd, Midsomer Norton Cake Box Bakery, Yeovil MMES 2012 Ltd, Bridgwater Start-up of the Year (sponsored by Teapot Creative): Emily Thompson Social Media Coach, Ilminster Otterhead House, Taunton The Birch Dementia Centre Ltd, Weston-super-Mare Employee of the Year (sponsored by Weston College): Ryan Werner, of AIP Welding Supplies Ltd, Bridgwater Rebekah Blake, of The Willow Set Pre-School, Taunton Environmental Achievement (sponsored by Gravity) New Leaf Life Design, Bridgwater Somerlap Forest Products Ltd, Mark Talick Group Ltd, Glastonbury Service Excellence (sponsored by CETSAT): Alpha Housing Services Limited, Taunton Container Team Ltd, Weston-super-Mare House Fox Estate Agents, Weston-super-Mare Somerset Manufacturer and Producer (sponsored by Garador): E-FS Ltd, Highbridge EPS Services & Tooling Ltd, Wiveliscombe Rotec Hydraulics Ltd, Taunton Rebuild and Thrive (sponsored by Barclays): Introtweet Ltd, Taunton Regency Purchasing Group, Weston-super-Mare Sansum Solutions Group Limited, Cheddar