THE 12th annual Brighton and Hove Awards - presented in association with The Argus – will be chaired by Fiona Shafer.

She is managing director of the MDHUB, the leading premier peer to peer business growth network for CEOs, managing directors and senior board in the South East.

She said: “What a great pleasure it is to be asked to chair the 2017 BAHBAs.

“As a former judge and sponsor of these prestigious awards over the years, I am looking forward to facilitating the judging panel for the first time and to bringing over 30 years knowledge and experience of the Brighton and Hove business community to the table.”

Fifteen awards will be presented at Proud Country House on Thursday September 14. A former winner of the DTI’s SFEDI Award for Business advice for England, Fiona is a business adviser and strategist by profession, with a passion for working with entrepreneurs and assisting them to fulfill their potential.Each winner will receive a year’s free membership to MDHUB, a vibrant and energising membership organisation that supports business owners through the challenges of growing and developing their business and where successes are shared and celebrated in a confidential environment.

This year will also mark the 12th year of this annual scheme which honours local business talent and success.

This year’s event is set to be bigger than ever before and is supported by some of the city’s leading brands.

These include The University of Brighton, Red7, Healys, Churchill Square, NatWest, City Cabs, Yelo Architects, Graves Jenkins, the Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce, Cardens, Martin Searle, Robinson Low Francis, the Big Lemon, Gemini Print, Brighton Business Curry Club, Brighton & Hove City Council and Brighton & Hove Tourism Alliance, Juice 107.2 FM, Platinum Business and Title Sussex.

Argus Editor Arron Hendy said: “We are prouid to once again be part of these very special awards.”