The Watford Observer has teamed up with the SME Hertfordshire Business Awards to seek out the very best businesses from across our county.

And we would love to see a Watford-based business take home the accolades of Best Pub, Best Restaurant and Best Customer Service.

Nominations are only open for a couple of weeks, so readers need to get their choices in now.

It takes less than a minute to nominate and we do the rest.

We’re looking for your favourite pub – perhaps it’s pet friendly or runs a weekly quiz, has great entertainment or just serves the very best pint.

We all value customer service, but how often do we let the business know how good we think they are?

This is your opportunity to say thank you to your Watford-based business that stands out from the crowd. It could be your hairdresser, your insurance broker or your yoga class - in fact any business that warrants attention and gratitude.

You can nominate any of these businesses and it takes less than a minute to complete the nomination at https://www. hertfordshireawards.co.uk/public-vote. Voting closes on 1st February.

Once you’ve nominated your choice, we will contact the business direct and have them included in our list for voting. If you are on the fence, considering two, please nominate both – the votes will decide the winner.

In addition to winning at the awards ceremony at Hunton Park Hotel in June, the winners will automatically go forward to the SME National Business Awards Final at the iconic Wembley Stadium later in the year, where more than 700 businesses from the whole of the UK will gather to ensure that the crème of business get recognised.

Last year in the SME Hertfordshire awards, two Watford-based companies were category winners – iSales Academy, a specialist sales, technical and leadership apprenticeship training provider who won Best New Business, and Tusker, who are known as ‘The Car Benefit People’ and took home the trophy in the Business of the Year.

This is the third year of the SME awards and follows on from the FSB awards that were organised for many years by the same company.

Speaking to us about the awards, Damian Cummins, Awards Director, said “Of all our business awards we organise, the Hertfordshire ones are very close to our hearts.

“They were the first awards we started back in 2007 and to this day the quality and diversity of the entrants is astounding.”

He added: “It’s Watford’s time to come to the fore and we believe that our new association with the Watford Observer will ensure that Hertfordshire knows where its natural capital lies.”

The SME Hertfordshire Business Awards will culminate in a glitzy evening of celebration with over 300 businesses and industry leaders attending the Hunton Park Hotel on June 20.

Separate from the public vote, there are 16 categories to choose from and entry is free of charge at www.hertfordshireawards.co.uk