Former award winner Kelly Singh, owner of Tamworth City Dance Academy, said the awards weren't just for the "big boys", it was about small businesses.

"Tamworth is full of that, we don't have a lot of the big guys. We are a town of small businesses and they're really vibrant and important, so don't think that you're out of that category," she said.

Nominations are now open for the 2021 awards, which acknowledge outstanding local businesses.

Read also:

They also celebrate the hard work and success of those who go above and beyond to provide an exceptional customer service experience.

The awards are presented by Tamworth Business Chamber, and Mrs Singh said chamber members were very helpful in their winning year in 2019.

"Use the chamber, they were really happy to help us with our application and it was a really lovely way to come together under that heading of business and for Tamworth as well," she said.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray said Tamworth Regional Council was proud to support the chamber for the annual awards.

"It's one of those wonderful occasions where all the businesses get together to celebrate the successes of many of our local businesses and I think Tamworth can be really proud of the shopfront that it puts forward with small business so it's really good to see the business chamber supporting those businesses," he said.

Nominations close on July 26, and the awards dinner will be held on September 10.

Nominations will be open until July 26.

Nominations forms are available at a number of businesses around the region, and there are entry barrels in the Tamworth Business Chamber office, Centrepoint, Tamworth Shoppingworld, Tamworth Square and Tamworth Regional Council offices.

The awards were officially launched on Thursday night, and photos from this event can be found on the Leader website.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: