Belinda O'Hanlon (above) of fashion shop Annabelinda, said she would enter the awards again this year.

"I think it's a good way to keep your name known," she said.

Last year, she put her business up for sale, but said her decision had caused so much publicity that sales had soared, and she had decided to keep working.

The interest in Annabelinda's history sparked by the marketing campaign has inspired her to open a vintage section, selling dresses from previous eras. The company was a 2009 finalist in the Champion Recruitment Customer and Staff Care award last year.

Robert Higham, training officer at Adderbury-based Fired Earth, which won the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership Sustainability Award, will also be entering again.

He said: “Winning the award has really raised our profile in the local community, for example through visits by local schools.

“It has worked incredibly well for us and for our customers.”