Business Awards 2006

The Grove is the Idyllic setting for the 2006 business awards. Picture: Z414323 by Ryo Hayashida.

IT'S back and it's bigger and better than ever before.

Sponsored by a host of blue chip companies, the Watford and North West London Business Awards has grown into the district's leading business awards competition since it launched back in 2002.

It is the opportunity for the district's high-performing companies and business professionals to showcase their talents and achievements.

The sponsors of this competition read like a who's who of business giants: Royal Bank of Scotland, Matthew Arnold and Baldwin solicitors, BDO Stoy Hayward, NatWest bank, Alliotts, Coutts and Lombard all come on board once more.

Independent judges include Watford Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Wenta Business Services, Business Link and Harrow in Business.

Categories in this year's competition are: Growing Business, Success through People, Small Business of the Year, the Entrepreneur Award, the Innovation Award and International Trade & Export.

There will also be an overall Business of the Year award, chosen from the finalists in each of the six categories.

The awards are open to all businesses and individuals working in Watford and North West London.

You can nominate yourself, your own business, or a colleague for one of the awards. Alternatively, you can nominate a customer or supplier who you believe deserves recognition.

The awards are supported by the Watford Observer and the Harrow Times newspapers, both published by Newsquest, one of the country's largest media groups, so plenty of publicity is assured. But you have to be in it to win it.

Such is the demand and interest in the competition, that this year the showpiece final will be held at the haunt of millionaires, the luxurious Grove Hotel in Chandlers Cross. The black tie event will be held on Friday, July 6, and hosted by well known recanteur, TV celebrity and former Conservative MP Giles Brandreth.

As well as a colourful TV career, Giles Brandreth was Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major's government, so he is likely to have countless tales to tell about the corridors of power.

Chairman of this year's awards committee, Karl Kirk of BDO Stoy Hayward, said: "Entries for the awards have grown year on year since 2002 and we are confident that this year's awards will be bigger and better than ever before.

"We have moved to The Grove to accommodate more people and I think this fabulous venue will add even more kudos to the event.

"Entries in previous years have been of an incredibly high standard and I am confident that trend will continue.

"Watford and North West London is a goldmine in terms of business excellence and achievement.

"Some fantastic companies have been honoured in previous years, but we want to unearth, recognise and rejoice in new talent in 2006."