THE East Anglian Daily Times' annual showcase for the region's best business talent has been official launched for this year. The Anglian Business Awards 2007 kicked off with a gathering of sponsors at the Trinity Park Conference and Events Centre in Ipswich which will host the gala awards dinner on November 15.

THE East Anglian Daily Times' annual showcase for the region's best business talent has been official launched for this year.

The Anglian Business Awards 2007 kicked off with a gathering of sponsors at the Trinity Park Conference and Events Centre in Ipswich which will host the gala awards dinner on November 15.

The awards have become an important part of the regional business calendar, highlighting the outstanding achievements of its diverse and enterprising business community.

Welcoming sponsors to the launch, EADT editor Terry Hunt said the message for potential entrants was very simple. “There's no downside to entering - you can only gain,” he said.

Once again, there are 14 categories to enter this year, with the winners going forward to be judged for the overall Business of the Year title. The top award is being sponsored this year for the fourth time by Bank of Scotland Corporate which, for the third year running, is also overall sponsor of the awards.

Bank of Scotland Corporate director Bruce Robertson said the awards were continuing to grow in prestige.

“Bank of Scotland Corporate have been overall sponsors of the Anglian Business Awards for the last three years and we are delighted to continue our support for an event which has grown in prestige during this time,” he said.

“We know there are many very successful businesses in our region and we look forward to recognising the hard work, enterprise and achievements of the people who have made this happen.”

Chris Bushby, executive director of the Suffolk Agricultural Association, which is the venue sponsor for the awards, welcomed their continuing involvement.

“The Suffolk Agricultural Association is delighted to support the Anglian Business Awards be that by providing Trinity Park, and especially the conference and events centre, for the presentations in November,” he said.

“We recognise the importance of such awards, in terms of the profile it sets to the rest of the county, of how well business is developing and achieving within Suffolk, and the contribution it makes to the Suffolk economy.”

The full list of awards, and their sponsors, is:

n Start Up Business of the Year, sponsored by Gotelee & Goldsmith solicitors;

n Innovation and Technology, sponsored by University Campus Suffolk;

n Outstanding Customer Service, sponsored by regional train operator One;

n Young Business Person, sponsored by human resources management firm Picasso HR;

n Training and Development, sponsored by Anglia Recruitment Group;

n Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce;

n International Trade, sponsored by Haven Gateway Partnership;

n Rural Business, sponsored by the East Anglian Daily Times;

n Marketing, sponsored by Alliance Corporate Risk Management;

n Business Development, sponsored by chartered surveyors Douglas Duff;

n Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Ipswich Audi;

n Environment,sponsored by energy company EDF Energy;

n Medium/Large Business of the Year, sponsored by Baker Tilly; and

n Community Involvement, sponsored by Adnams.

Max Harnden, commercial partner at law firm Gotelee & Goldsmith, the longest-standing sponsor of the award, said they were delighted to sponsor the Start Up Business category at this year's awards.

“It must be remembered that small businesses are very important to the UK economy, and indeed, form the backbone,” he said.

Brian Morron, senior partner at the firm, added: “It's actually quite an exciting one to judge because we see potential in start up businesses. We are trying to pick out what could be a really exciting new business for the future and you do see every year some people who have put lots of energy in new businesses and had some amazing success in a short time, and every now and then they become a stupendously successful business.”

Accountancy firm Baker Tilly is one of a batch of new sponsors to join the awards and is supporting the Medium/Large Business of the Year category.

David Franklin, partner at Baker Tilly, said: “Clearly, the success of the local economy is very much dependent on this sector, and as such we are delighted to support these awards. We believe the awards have got a great part of play in the local business community because they do recognise achievement in so many sectors, reflecting the hard work and efforts of entrepreneurs and business people, and as such we are proud to be able to sponsor an award for the first time.”

To obtain an entry pack or for more information about the awards, call Jo Reeder on 01473 324882 or Debbie Noye on 01473 324773, email anglianbusinessawards@eadt.co.uk or visit the website at www.eadt.co.uk/aba .