A company that triumphed in last year's Rural Business Awards is calling for businesses to enter the 2017 awards.

Mike Wye & Associates, based in Buckland Filleigh,

won the coveted best Rural Manufacturing Business Award last year.

Now, they are calling on businesses and entrepreneurs to enter this years awards.

The Rural Business Awards is the only UK-wide programme dedicated to showcasing the success of rural businesses.

Entries are open until June 30, and the awards are this year supported by Amazon and the CLA.

Marie Guppy, from Mike Wye & Associates, said: “We were thrilled to be named Best Manufacturing Business at the RBAs.

"We'd never really put ourselves forward for awards before, but to be rewarded for something you are passionate about is thrilling.

"The judges look for information on how being based in a rural area affects your business, the benefits, the challenges, how you impact on the area you are based in and, most importantly, how this makes you special.

"Our advice would be to just do it."

The awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with 14 categories ranging from Best Rural Start-up to Rural Entrepreneur Of The Year.

Each winner is decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.

The awards night will take place on October 5 at Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey.

Anna Price, co-founder of the awards, said: "We’re incredibly proud that the Rural Business Awards have reached such a great scale, three years from inception, and to have Amazon on board in addition to our long-standing partner, the CLA, is testament to this progress."

Doug Gurr, UK country manager for Amazon, said: "We’re delighted to be backing the Rural Business Awards to help shine a spotlight on the best of rural businesses, small and large alike.

“I live in a small Yorkshire village and see every day how the internet is unlocking the potential of rural businesses through services like our own Amazon Marketplace, which helps rural companies reach customers across the UK and around the world.

"We know how important rural businesses are to the UK, which is why we’re proud to partner with the Rural Business Awards and celebrate their success stories.

"I hope rural businesses in Cornwall will enter the awards, showcasing local success on a national scale.”

Over a hundred rural businesses attended the awards ceremony last year, and 2017 is set to be a record for entries.

Helen Woolley, director general for the CLA, said: “The CLA partners with the Rural Business Awards because we believe that rural businesses are the beating heart of our countryside and make a vital contribution to the overall economy.

"The Awards are an important showcase for our most innovative and creative rural enterprises, boosting their profile and recognising their success and hard work.”

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Rural businesses owners who wish to enter the awards can do so by visiting ruralbusinessawards.co.uk/enter.