This time last year, when we launched our inaugural Bradford Means Business Awards, we did so in an economic climate that was, to say the least, gloomy for many.

That was, partly, why we began our business awards when we did – to give much-deserved recognition to those businesses, large and small, and those entrepreneurs, new or established, who had not only survived some of the worst trading conditions for decades, but had managed to thrive.

For many companies, the economic picture has not changed much, or if it has improved, it has done so only slightly. But we are confident, after the response we had with the Bradford Means Business Awards last year, that the awards in 2012 will reveal that Bradford is doing its level best to drive forward recovery.

We knew that there were a lot of strong companies and individual business people out there in the district, but even so, the level of entries for last year’s event both surprised and delighted us.

And while we are all aware of the big hitters in Bradford’s business landscape, it was also incredibly gratifying to hear from firms who perhaps operate just under the radar of most lay-people’s knowledge.

Some of our winners are big concerns which have been working for years in the Bradford district, employing many people and generating huge turnovers, but who are not quite household names. They have simply been getting on with their jobs, to great effect.

It’s hugely heartening to see entries from new businesses, especially those who have set up with one or two employees or who have identified a niche product or service, perhaps a technological advance, that gives them a foot in the door.

We are expecting the Bradford Means Business Awards to be bigger and better than ever this year, so get your entries in nice and early. Full details of how to enter, along with information about last year’s winners, are on the next page.

The awards could not happen, of course, without the support and generosity of our sponsors, and we are indebted to all of them for demonstrating a commitment to helping improve the overall landscape of Bradford’s business community by sponsoring one of our 11 individual categories.

We run the awards each year in partnership with Bradford Council which, alongside the T&A, recognises the massive contribution that business makes to our community. We couldn’t do it without their help or without the magnificent support of the city’s leading business organisation, Bradford Chamber.

We are all looking forward to our gala night awards ceremony at the Aagrah Midpoint Suite, in Thornbury, in May. Will you be there with us? Only if you enter...

We look forward to seeing you there.