Sponsors have been announced for the 2015 Suffolk Coastal Business and Community Awards.

The awards – closing date for nominations is today – will recognise and celebrate the contributions, initiatives and successes of businesses, groups and individuals in the Suffolk Coastal district over the past 18 months.

Awards include Independent Business sponsored by Suffolk Coastal District Council; Charity Champion sponsored by EB Carpets, Felixstowe; Services to the community sponsored by Park Properties; Health and Wellbeing sponsored by Places for People; Innovation sponsored by the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership; Customer Focus sponsored by Bruisyard Hall; People Development sponsored by EDF Energy; Team of the Year sponsored by Suffolk Sport; and Encouraging Tourism sponsored by SCDC.

TJ Haworth-Culf, cabinet member for customers, communities and leisure at Suffolk Coastal, said “We’ve had a great response so far, from our amazing and generous sponsors to the impressive number of entries we’ve already received.”

She said the awards would highlight the people, groups and businesses that make Suffolk Coastal “such a wonderful, vibrant and impressive community”.

The winners will be announced on March 12 at a black tie awards dinner at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall.

Niki Rousseau from EDF Energy, which is sponsoring the People Development Award, said: “This award will shine a light on high performance and attention to learning, whether that is on an individual level or in a school, business or community group.”