The finalists were announced on Tuesday via a Facebook livestream, with two to five finalists in each of the 17 categories looking to secure their respective awards.

Bathurst Business Chamber president Catherine Fitzsimons is hoping the finalists will be able to get together for the announcement of the winners if restrictions ease.

READ ALSO: Carillon Business Awards postponed to November

"On November 19, the winner of each of the categories will be announced at what we hope will be a live event," she said.

"We hope that there'll be a party, that would be wonderful, at Goldfields on the Friday.

"Ticket sales will open soon, but of course we're all waiting to see what happens with the easing of restrictions and how many people are allowed to go."

READ ALSO: Nominations and entries open for 2021 Carillon Business Awards

There are 17 categories plus an overall winner, and each category has at least two judges from outside the 2795 postcode, with some judges based in Bathurst's sister city Cirencester in the United Kingdom.

Ms Fitzsimons thanked the judges, sponsors and media partners for their support in making the Carillon Awards possible during such a tough time.

"Kelso Electrical is the overall sponsor for the awards [and] we've got 15 different businesses, the chamber itself plus Bathurst Regional Council as sponsors of the categories and without them it just would not be possible to run the awards," she said.

"Most of them are doing it tough in these times too and they've come to the table to make it possible to recognise businesses; it says volumes about the spirit of community here in Bathurst."

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Locals will be able to have their say and vote for their favourite finalist in the people's choice of business and employee awards.

Most of the Carillon categories are also part of the NSW Chamber Business Awards, so the winners of those categories will automatically progress to the state finals.

The finalists are:

Bathurst's favourite employee

Bathurst's favourite business

Employer of choice

Excellence in business

Excellence in construction and trades

Excellence in education

Excellence in food, wine or hospitality

Excellence in health, fitness and wellbeing

Excellence in innovation

Excellence in micro business

Excellence in professional and financial services

Excellence in Retail

Excellence in small business

Excellence in tourism and accommodation

Outstanding business leader

Outstanding community organisation

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