The host for the 2021 South West Business Leader Awards has been announced.

Comedian and television personality Tom Allen will be the host of the in-person event, which will take place at Ashton Gate on Thursday 23rd September.

The Awards will also be available via a world-class digital offering, which will be announced closer to the time.

Entries for the 2021 event are now open – and you can enter here.

The Awards will highlight the leading companies and individuals that are driving growth in the region in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide a platform for entrepreneurs and businesses to celebrate their success.

Andrew Scott, Business Leader founder, comments: “I cannot wait to be back at Ashton Gate this September for our in-person celebration. The Awards will celebrate the success of the best of the South West and is going to be an evening to remember, as we expect Tom to be thoroughly entertaining as host for our guests.

“I urge all companies and entrepreneurs to enter, and I look forward to announcing the shortlist for this year’s event in due course. Good luck to all and thanks to Tom for being our host!”

Tom Allen 

Tom Allen’s unique style of sharp, acerbic wit and camp, riotous storytelling has seen him become a household name in the UK.

The last couple of years have been very busy for Tom with him becoming the host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired, co-host of Bake Off The Professionals, regular on Bake Off: An Extra Slice and Alan Carr’s There’s Something About Movies as well as numerous appearances on Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, Hypothetical, The Royal Variety Performance, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Cats Does Countdown, Would I Lie to You and Roast Battle.

He has also been heard on BBC Radio 4 in his own series Tom Allen Is Not Very Nice, as well as Just a Minute and is a regular co-host on Loose Ends.

As an actor he has starred in BBC Radio 4’s Sony Award-winning Bleak Expectations, Comedy Central’s Threesome, BBC’s Sensitive Skin with Joanna Lumley and Fear of Fanny with Mark Gatiss and Julia Davis. The film includes Colour Me Kubrick with John Malkovich, Starter for Ten with James McAvoy and the Stephen Frears film, Tamara Drewe.

During the pandemic, he kept entertaining the nation on TV shows such as Richard Osman’s House of Games, QI, Hypothetical, the Great Christmas Bake Off and Celebrity Catchphrase.