CHRIS STARKIE, EDP Business Editor

Main sponsor

Is your business the best at what it does? Do you go that extra mile for your customers? Then why not enter the EDP Business Awards 2007 and let the region know about your successes.
Business editor Chris Starkie
introduces the EDP Business Awards 2007.

Last year’s best new business award is presented by Jonathan Barclay, chairman of Shaping Norfolk's future (right) to winner, Thomas Haizel, managing director of Anglia DNA services.

The search is on to find the region’s brightest businesses with the launch of the EDP Business Awards 2007.

It’s the 18th year of the awards, which are the longest running and most prestigious in the East of England.

This year the awards have a new main sponsor, Porsche Centre Norwich. The centre, which will stock new and used models, is due to open at Costessey, near the Norfolk Showground, this autumn.
There are nine categories businesses can enter, giving companies the opportunity to show their expertise in a wide range of areas, from business development to their impact on the environment.
Three finalists from each category will be invited to a black tie dinner at the Norwich City Airport Holiday Inn on Friday, October 12, when the prizes will be presented.

Around 300 leading figures from the business world will attend, and all the finalists will also be in the running to scoop the overall Business of the Year award, which is again sponsored by Barclays.

Last year that accolade went to construction services firm May Gurney, which also won the Business Development award.
Today we outline each of the categories you can enter.

Each business may enter a maximum of two. We’ve made the entry form as simple as we can to encourage as many companies as possible to enter. You can also enter online at our website – www.edp24.co.uk/business.

Panels of judges for each category will then whittle down the entries. Following possible site visits, the names of our 27 finalists will be published in the EDP on Wednesday, August 22.

Each category winner will be presented with a hand-crafted EDP Business Awards trophy and will be eligible to carry a winner’s logo on their stationery and promotional material.

Once again we have also produced an entry booklet with details of each category, with the help of our print sponsor Watton-based Rapide Design and Print. Copies of this booklet can be obtained by e-mailing David Helsdon at david.helsdon@archant.co.uk.

Entries for the awards must be received by 5pm on Friday, May 25.

CATEGORIES ENTRY FORM RULES