Entries open for our business awards,

ENTRIES have opened for the Derby Telegraph Business Awards 2019.

Run in conjunction with Champions (UK) plc, the awards aim to celebrate, recognise and reward the most remarkable companies in the city and county.

The awards, now in their sixth year, have become a popular fixture in the local business calendar.

Hundreds of entries were received for last year’s competition, with Project Better Energy winning the coveted Company of the Year title.

We are now calling on the business community to once again step forward to receive the recognition it deserves by logging on to our dedicated awards website www. derbytelegraphbusinessawards. co.uk – where firms will be able to submit their entries.

This year, the categories have been refreshed further to ensure that more businesses than ever are given the opportunity to shine.

The categories are: SME Business of the Year, Start-up Business of the Year, Business Entrepreneur of the Year, Employer of the Year, Leadership Team of the Year, Creative Communications and Digital Business of the Year, Sales and Marketing Award, Excellence in Manufacturing Award, Apprenticeship Employer of the Year, Excellence in Innovation Award, Customer Service Excellence Award, Contribution to the Community Award, Not-for-profit Organisation Award and, of course, Company of the Year.

Businesses have until Friday, March 1, to enter – after which the judging will start.

The competition culminates in a glittering awards evening at Derby College’s Roundhouse, on Pride Park, on Wednesday, June 5.

The ceremony, which will be attended by Derbyshire’s business elite, will not only be a celebration of our best companies but a reminder that the county is a great place to do business .

Derbyshire Live editor Julie Bayley said: “The Derby Telegraph Business Awards highlight the incredible talent and hard work that goes on locally to make sure we have a thriving business economy.

“After last year’s awards were launched, we received a deluge of entries and wonderful support from our sponsors.

“Our hope is that 2019 will be equally successful, if not more so.” ■■Does your firm have what it takes to be a finalist? Pages 2&3