COMPANIES have until just Friday to submit their last-minute applications for this year’s Telegraph & Argus Bradford Means Business Awards.

The seventh annual awards night, being held at the Aagrah Midpoint Suite in Thornbury on Thursday, July 6, will showcase the best that the district’s business world has to offer.

The deadline for entries to the ceremony’s 11 categories was extended to allow more firms to enter and showcase their successes to the local community.

MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE

This year’s categories are: New Business of the Year; Retail, Leisure or Hospitality Business of the Year; Small or Medium Enterprise of the Year; Manufacturer of the Year; Job Creator of the Year; Woman in Business; Employer of the Year, and Apprentice of the Year.

Other awards will be given for Business Personality of the Year, and Business or Technical Innovation of the Year.

The best of the best will also be crowned on the night, with the Winner of Winners prize.

Each category has its own section on the T&A website, and each award has its own dedicated entry form.

Anyone who thinks they are eligible to enter more than one category needs to complete a separate form for each award.

After next Friday’s nomination deadline has passed, the judging panel will meet up to assess all the entries and draw up shortlists of three candidates in each category.

The T&A reserves the right to move entrants to different categories if it thinks they meet the criteria for other awards better than the one they have entered.

There are also two categories for the public to nominate in, the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality, and the Employer of the Year awards.

One business which has already been nominated by the public in the Retail, Leisure, and Hospitality category is Pennine Cycles, based in Thornton Road, Bradford, which won the award in 2015 and again last year.

The shop is run by husband and wife team Paul and Sandra Corcoran.

Cyclist Thomas Nicholson, who has put the business forward for the award, said: “I walked into their shop in September not knowing a thing about cycling.

“Paul was welcoming, informative, friendly, and most of all he didn’t pressure me into purchasing anything.

“He is so passionate about cycling, you can tell this from talking to him and it has an effect on you as the customer.

“I have never received the kind of help, advice, and encouragement from any shop like I get from Pennine Cycles.”

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke has called on Bradford businesses to take advantage of the extended deadline to enter this year’s awards.

He said: “The awards are a showcase for businesses large and small, entrepreneurs both new and established, in every sector. It’s an opportunity to tell your story, shout about your achievements and, if you’re lucky, take away one of the top prizes.”

MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE