THE region’s finest businesses, owners and their staff will be celebrated at a glitzy bash this week.

The seventh annual Mid-Essex Business Awards takes place at the Fennes, a plush Georgian manor house in Bocking, Braintree, tomorrow night (Friday).

More than 200 people are expected to attend the ceremony, organised by the Chelmsford Weekly News’s parent company Newsquest Essex. It will celebrate the great and good of business in this area of the county.

There were more than 150 entries to the awards this year, and there will be 60-plus finalists on the night.

Best Businessman, Best Businesswoman, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Best Apprentice are just some of the awards which will be given out on the evening.

FSE Online, Regal Kitchens, Rayment Recruitment and Chelmsford College are sponsoring the ceremony.

Hollie Ratcliffe, event sales manager at Newsquest Essex, said: “These business awards are always very special occasions.

And we are expecting this year’s to be the best ever.

“More than 150 entries really is something special and the fact there are 60 finalists shows how high the standardwas and shows just how much talent there is within the business community here in Chelmsford.

“Since Chelmsford has become a city business here has really taken off, and we are absolutely delighted to be able to host such a wonderful and worthwhile event.”