Chris Holland looks at a selection of entries for this year's T&A Bradford Means Business Awards

THE Telegraph & Argus is again partnering with Bradford Council and Bradford Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the success of local businesses of all sizes, individual entrepreneurs and achievers.

Now in their sixth year, the Bradford Means Business Awards will once again put the spotlight on companies with something to shout about.

Enter your company into the Bradford Means Business Awards 2016

The 11 categories - each sponsored by local organisations - are designed to reward women in business, technical innovation, outstanding employers, talented apprentices, new enterprises and T&A readers' favourite retail and hospitality businesses.

Once again, the honours will be announced and presented at a glittering ceremony at the Aagrah Midpoint Suit on Saturday June 11.

Each local business "Oscar" is sponsored by a leading organisation. Bradford Means Business sponsors this year are: Malik House Business Centres ( New Business); Aaagrah (Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Business); LCF Law (Small/Medium Enterprise); Barrett Steel Ltd (Manufacturer); Bradford College (Job Creator); The Broadway (Business Woman); Telegraph & Argus (Employer ); Craven College ( Apprentice); Kirkgate Shopping Centre ( Winner of Winners); Bradford Chamber of Commerce ( Business Personality) and Bradford Council (Business of Technical Innovation).

Entries for the 2016 awards have been coming in thick and fast - but there's room for more. The deadline for entries is Thursday March 24 and full details and an entry form can be found here.

Apart from revealing the winners, the black tie awards ceremony can be a platform for interesting news. Last year's keynote speaker was Peter Miller, UK operations director of developer Westfield, who confirmed the opening date for the long awaited Broadway shopping centre and explained how the Australian firm had kept faith with the Bradford project.

The result of the Retail, Leisure or Hospitality category will depend on the views of T&A readers and is the only prize decided by a public vote .

Those in the running include the Guzelian cafe bar in Little Germany.

It was launched by leading press and commercial photographer Asadour Guzelian as a diversification of his business with a grant from Bradford Council’s Growth Zone economic regeneration scheme .

Asadour transferred his photo-news agency business from Saltaire to Bradford city centre with the aim of branching out into new fields.

Managed by Nik Dickens, the cafe bar is described in the nomination as the only place in Bradford serving Yorkshire tapas (YAPAS) and as an eclectic place with warm and inviting staff and food .

The venue recently climbed 16 places on tripadvisor in six weeks weeks based on customer feedback.

Another 'in' place is The Yard in Ilkley.

Its nomination cites "rock star customer service" and praises manage Ali who has helped to turn the business around since returning to run the bar and restaurant near Ilkley town centre

Last year's New Business of the year winner, Bradford Brewery has also been put forward by customers who say that, since launching less than 12 months ago. the business has cemented itself into the culture and community of Bradford with its products sold across the country.

Bradford Brewery recently revealed further expansion plans with the relaunch of the former New Pack Horse on Westgate, the redevelopment of the former Old Crown on Ivegate and a new craft beer house in Saltaire village.

Among the individual awards is Businesswoman of the Year. This year entries include a former professional ballet dancer turned teacher, a retail leader and an online entrepreneur.

Catherine Riley has been manager of Bradford's Kirkgate shopping centre for more than 20 years.

Her citation says Catherine's leadership has enabled Kirkgate to face up to the challenge of the new Broadway centre - and even attract higher footfall than the newcomer at the end of 2015.

The nomination says: "In what has been one of the most challenging decades for retail in cities and for shopping centres, Catherine has single-handedly seen the centre through the toughest of times and built the profile of the centre throughout the North of England so it attracted new stores .

"Without her exemplary leadership and compassionate yet no-nonsense approach to business, Bradford's retail offer could have been seriously damaged."

Ruth Summerskill, who spent five years as a professional ballet dancer in Portugal, achieved her ambition to launch a dance school two years ago. The Ruth Joanne School of Ballet at Clayton now has more than 140 students from the UK, Poland, Latvia, Russia, Philippines, Madera, Pakistan and India, ranging in age from two to 67.

In 2014 the school won silver in the International Dance School of the Year competition.

Ruth wants to highlight Bradford as a centre of excellence for dance and has plans to start a regional Youth Ballet company in Bradford . She is also actively involved in The Royal Academy of Dance and was selected as one of only five UK ambassadors . Ruth is also a member the RAD Northern region committee.

Celiyah Russell runs Dreamss which provides supported accommodation for care leavers aged 16 and over working with social services across Yorkshire .

She has encouraged, trained and employed local people wanting to wok in the care field to help young people secure a brighter future.

A former prison assistant psychologist, Celiyah , from Heaton, Bradford, also worked for the Probation Service before launching her business.

Also from Heaton is nominee Safian Aziz who runs the Blingart beauty products business which designs and manufacturers false nails - one of the fastest growing beauty products worldwide.

The business has grown to become one of the biggest sellers of false nails on Amazon and competes with national operators.

Without any professional qualifications, Safian has built up the business and designs the products and manages all the business logistics.

Her husband, Taziz, who nominated her, said: " My wife may not have a formal education but she is an example of how a woman who was denied has overcome and has excelled in e-commerce, design, manufacturing and branding."

Rachael Hatfield, who previously worked in the hotels and events sector, runs Shoo Social Media Ltd in Ilkley, providing brand awareness, management and training expertise. She has worked on major events, including the Brand Yorkshire Conference and Business in Yorkshire.

She is also involved in various community activities and charity fundraising and is an active member of the Ilkley Business Forum.

Rachel has a career background in hotels and events management and studied for two degrees to focus her career.

Nasreen Karim is a solicitor and founding partner of Bradford law firm Platinum Partnership Solicitors .

She has been nominated by a colleague who says Nasreen has created jobs and is a big supporter of local charitable initiatives . She plays a key role in ensuring the Asian community understands the importance of making a will and other legal issues and goes the extra mile to help and support vulnerable clients.