A business advisor is asking Dorset to get behind her as she looks toward the next round of a national competition.

Dawn Crossingham has been shortlisted as one of the top 50 business advisors in the UK in a competition run by Enterprise Nation, which celebrates Britain’s small business advisors.

Dawn said she was ‘excited, overwhelmed and a bit shocked’ to find out she was in with a chance. But with voting now open, she is asking people to support her to help her win a place in the top 10.

Dawn, who lives in West Dorset, started working with businesses in 2009 working for Business Link prior to starting her own business, D52ltd, in 2013.

Last year she was a Venus Women’s Award Winner in the category of Networker of the Year.

She said: “I am overwhelmed by the support of my clients both past and present during the 13 years I have been delivering business advice; whether for Business Link, Dorset Growth Hub or my own Business D52ltd the support has been incredible. To have affected so many businesses to the point where they have nominated me is so humbling.

“I want to thank everyone for their support.”

Dawn has been shortlisted in the finance and funding category for the Enterprise Nation awards, and believes she is the only business in Dorset to make the Top 50.

Hundreds of nominations were received. The judges are:

n Max Firth, managing director, business information, Experian UK&I

n Dr Rannia Leontaridi OBE, Director, Business Growth at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

n Bev James, author of the Sunday Times bestseller, Do it! Or Ditch It, CEO of The Coaching Academy, start-up advocate and business mentor

n Sharron Gunn, Executive Director of Members, Commercial and Shared Services at ICAEW

n Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation

n Marc Jantzen, founder, TheNub, specialist in accelerating the growth of consulting and advisory businesses

Voting is open until Sunday, March 11 and winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on March 12.

Dawn added: “I never thought I was even in with a chance, and to be in the Top 50 with so many inspirational business advisers is such an honour. To be presented with this accolade and to be given the recognition of being in the top 50 is an incredible achievement, but now everyone in Dorset has to vote if they’d like to see me in the Top 10!”

To cast your vote and support Dawn’s bid to win an award, visit enterprisenation.com/top50