Express & Star Business Awards deadline looming

The closing date to register and submit entries for the Express & Star Business Awards is Monday, February 11.

Scores of companies across all the award categories have already signed up, as MNA managing director Phil Inman revealed to event sponsors at a meeting at the Express & Star's head office in Wolverhampton.

Businesses attending the sponsors' event included BDO, Aspray24, Jaguar Land Rover, Carvers, Lloyds TSB Commercial, Higgs & Sons, Wolverhampton Business Solutions, the Grand Theatre and Yarrington.

The awards evening is already booked for May 16 at Wolverhampton Racecourse when, in front of an audience of 400 people, the winners will be announced.

There are nine categories on offer, some of which are open to most organisations and others which put the spotlight on specific areas such as innovation or community involvement, export or manufacturing. And, new for this year, a category for an individual has also been included for Business Person of the Year

Any business wholly or mainly based in the Black Country or south Staffordshire can enter the competition, which is free of charge and the campaign offers a high-profile platform for business achievers to shout about the success of their workforce.

It is open to businesses whether they employ two staff or 200, turning over thousands of pounds or millions, operating in the service industry or long-established manufacturing sector.

Full competition details can be found on the website: awards2013.expressandstar.com.

After the closing date on February 11 finalists will be selected in each category and visited on-site by the sponsor judges.

The chosen nominees will be profiled in the Express & Star a few days before the awards ceremony takes place.

Tables for the black-tie awards event are already being snapped up. A table for 10 people costs £850 including VAT and places can be reserved by telephoning Viv Birch on 01902 319350.