become an

award-winner

HOW would you like to be able to call yourself an 'award-winning' business?

Six companies in Warrington are already doing that after becoming winners at last year's Warrington Business Awards, and this year, seven more companies will be joining them.

The awards are organised by the Warrington GUARDIAN and Business Link Warrington. It costs nothing to enter and thousands of pounds worth of prizes are waiting to be won.

All you do is fill in the form.

There are seven categories: the retail award, social responsibility, effective training, export achievement, entrepreneur of the year, start up business of the year and innovation and research.

The winner of one of the categories will be chosen as the Business of the Year, with a prize consisting of a trophy, a £1,500 business support package from Business Link; a £500 cheque from and publicity in the GUARDIAN and on our internet site, and a corporate identity day worth £1,000 provided by Dimension Creative Services, Bewsey Road.

Prizes in each category will consist of a trophy, a £200 business support package from Business Link, a £150 cheque from the GUARDIAN, publicity in the GUARDIAN and on the Net, and champagne from Asda.

The winners will be announced at a dinner at the Park Royal International Hotel on June 7, where the speaker will be Dr Kevin Jones, who gives an amusing slant to medical matters. Master of ceremonies will be Bob Williams, head of communications at Warrington Borough Council.

The reception at the dinner will be supported by Warrington Borough Council.

The training category is being sponsored by North and Mid Cheshire TEC, entrepreneur of the year by Ridgway Greenall solicitors; export by the Economic Development team at the International Business Centre, retail by Legal and General, social responsibility by BNFL, start-up by Paddington House and innovation by BT.

Forms are available from the reception area at the Academy, Bridge Street, Warrington, or by ringing Clare McCann at the GUARDIAN on 01925 434091 or Business Link on 01925 715000. You can also enter on the Internet. A form can be found on the the Warrington Business Awards website on www.thisischeshire.co.uk

The closing date is Friday, April 20, 2001. Completed forms should be sent to: Business Awards Committee, Business Link, International Business Centre, Delta Crescent, Westbrook, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 7WQ.

Tickets for the dinner cost £20 each and £180 for a table for 10.

They can be reserved with Janette Bolton on 434215.

The export category of the awards is sponsored by the Economic Development Team at the International Business Centre.