Orange Business Chamber president Ash Brown said the move had not proved popular among members.

“We had a stand-up [function] this year, it wasn’t so popular,” he said.

“We are going to sit down for dinner but still have socialising at the beginning of the event.”

Mr Brown said the event would also be held later in the year next year.

It will move from February to a date in July.

“That was one of the feedback items,” he said.

“It probably didn’t give [businesses] enough time to prepare their submissions in the Christmas lead-up.”

At this year’s awards 17 categories were won.

Bobbies Clothing owner Mel Gregory won the Excellence in Retail award and was also inducted into the awards’ Hall of Fame.

The Banjo Business of the Year award was won by Forefront Services.

Five Orange firms were later named as finalists in the 2018 Western NSW Regional Business Awards.

Dirtyworkx has been nominated for the Start Up Superstar category and LiveBetter Community Services has been nominated for the Excellence in Social Enterprise category.

Housing Plus Orange was nominated in the Outstanding Employer of Choice category.

Cally Woodhouse of Yates Baker McLean is one of six nominees for Outstanding Business Leader.

And Mulberry Lane Vet Hospital has been named in the Excellence in Small Business category.

The winners will be announced at a dinner in Bathurst on Friday, May 11.