The finalists for the Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils Innovation Awards have been revealed.

The awards are held every two years and are a celebration of businesses in all sectors that are striving to use unique and creative approaches to deliver their products and services.

 This year, awards will be handed out in eight categories, with one of the winners then being named as the overall 'Business Innovator of the Year', sponsored by Mosaic Group.

 The finalists for each award (in alphabetical order) are:

 Sustainability Innovation (sponsored by Connected Innovation)

• Aquagrain, Needham Market
• Bantu Farm, Bentley
• Natural Building Systems Ltd, Palgrave

 Construction Innovation (sponsored by Suffolk New College)

• Mbloc Ltd, Long Melford
• Project Orange Architects, Lavenham
• TMJ Interiors, Bildeston

 Customer Service Innovation (sponsored by University of Suffolk)

• Breakout, Long Melford
• J Edwards Funeral Directors, Sudbury
• West View IT, Stowmarket

 Food and Drink Innovation (sponsored by Mid Suffolk District Council)

• Bantu Farm, Bentley
• Flourish & Bean Ltd, Bramford
• James White Drinks Ltd, Ashbocking

 Growth Business of the Year (sponsored by MENTA)

• IEMusic, Stowmarket
• Orbital, Stowmarket
• Token of the Forest, Barking

 High Street Innovation (sponsored by Babergh District Council)

• Flourish & Bean Ltd, Bramford
• Suffolk Creative Spaces, Long Melford
• The Crooked House, Lavenham

Rising Star (sponsored by University of Essex)

• EO Escape Rooms, Sudbury
• Ocala Healthcare, Stowmarket
• Softwood Books, Stowmarket

 Shooting Star (sponsored by West Suffolk College)

• Canine Dip and Dive Club Ltd, Helmingham
• IEMusic, Stowmarket
• The Refill Shed, East Bergholt

Cllr Teresa Davis, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for thriving communities, said: "On behalf of everyone at Mid Suffolk, I'd like to congratulate each of the finalists that have made it onto the shortlists.

"It's going to be incredibly tough to choose the winners, but any business that takes home an award will be very deserving of it."

The awards will be handed out at a ceremony held at All Manor of Events on Thursday, 7 November.

Cllr Derek Davis, Babergh District Council cabinet member for sustainable economy, said: "Each of these businesses is making important strides to innovate in their industry and it is excellent to see so much forward-thinking taking place in our area.

 "Thank you to our sponsors for enabling us to recognise another group of trailblazing businesses at what will be the third edition of these awards."