The Bury Free Press West Suffolk Business Awards has partnered with the county’s largest mental health charity for this year’s event.

The team behind the annual awards has chosen Suffolk Mind as its charity for 2024.

It is the first time the awards, now in its 13th year, has partnered with a charity, as it continues to grow from strength to strength.

Jonathan Tewson, head of IMG awards and events, said: “We are delighted to partner with Suffolk Mind.

“The charity is well known across the West Suffolk and the wider area for its amazing work in the field of mental health.

“We want to do all we can to highlight this further through our awards this year by raising awareness and also funds on the evening, itself.

“Good mental health is crucial in the workplace and Suffolk Mind was a natural choice.

“Hopefully it will be the first of many ventures on which we will collaborate.”

The Bury Free Press West Suffolk Business Awards will take place at the Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, on October 11.

Judging is now complete across the 13 categories and the finalists will be revealed on Friday.

There were more than 200 entries.

ITV Anglia news presenter Becky Jago will present the awards for the second year running.

The black-tie event will see more than 250 business people gather for the awards, now one of the key business events of the year.

Suffolk Mind is an independent mental health charity serving the county with services including counselling, allotment projects, borderline personality disorder groups and an evening telephone support line.

It also offers mental health training to individuals and workplaces through The Mental Health Toolkit and teaches children as young as four about their mental health and wellbeing through The Mental Health Kitbag.

The charity’s mission is to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.

Jon Neal, chief executive of Suffolk Mind, said: “For good mental health, we all need to stretch ourselves in meaningful ways and celebrate our successes – as individuals and as employers. So, business awards are something we wholeheartedly support at Suffolk Mind.

“We work alongside many businesses in West Suffolk, through our Suffolk Mind services and through our training arm The Mental Health Toolkit, to ensure mental health and wellbeing remains a priority in the workplace.

“Workplaces can play a huge part in wellbeing and, since we spend much of our time working, it is essential that companies help their teams meet their physical and emotional needs.

“We’re delighted to be involved in a partnership with the Bury Free Press on these awards and look forward to celebrating the best organisations in West Suffolk.”