THIS year’s Bradford Means Business Awards will take place for the first time in the heart of Bradford city centre.

The awards ceremony, which takes place on Thursday, July 18, will take place inside a huge marquee which will be erected in City Park.

There will be a red carpet entrance to the marquee, with the black tie awards dinner taking place inside with a full drinks reception, meal, entertainment and the awards ceremonies taking place with the stunning backdrop of City Hall, and located right next to the Mirror Pool.

This is the first time the awards, which have been previously hosted at the Aagrah Midpoint venue in Thornbury, have been held in City Park, and tickets are already in high demand to secure a spot at the awards, taking place in a unique location.

Steve Lowe, sales director at the Telegraph & Argus, said: “The business community has been asking for the event to be held in the heart of the district and to be a true celebration.

“With the great support to date, we are working hard to deliver the best business awards night for the district.

“Whether you are nominated for an award in the weeks ahead or become a sponsor, the evening will provide a unique opportunity to network, to celebrate and to thank colleagues on what we hope will be a beautiful summers evening.

“But business will need to book tickets early as interest has been encouraging and we look forward to seeing you there in July.”

Nominations for this years awards opened earlier this month, and so far have been coming in thick and fast, with the deadline for nominations coming on April 5.

There have been a number of changes to the categories for 2019, with one to suit every firm or businessperson.

The Woman in Business, Young Entrepreneur, Retail and Hospitality, and Business Personality categories have all been removed this year, and have been replaced by Business Entrepreneur of the Year, Customer Service Excellence Award, Contribution to the Community Award, and Family Business of the Year.

The New Business, Manufacturer, Small or Medium-sized Enterprise and Job Creator of the Year awards have all been retained, as have Apprentice of the Year and Employer of the Year, to create the most inclusive awards line-up possible.

To book tickets for the awards night, email Lauren Wood on lauren.wood@nqyne.co.uk, or call 01274 705222.

To nominate somebody you feel would be a worthy winner, who has gone above and beyond in business in the past 12 months, head to the Telegraph & Argus website and fill in an online nomination form.

The awards shortlists will be announced nearer to the event.