THE ANGLIAN Business Awards 2011 are open for entries.

The annual regional showcase for all that’s best in business is being organised by the East Anglian Daily Times, part of regional media group Archant, for the 14th time this year.

And for the third year running, the awards are being supported by development agency Choose Suffolk as main sponsor.

The 2011 awards were launched at a reception for sponsors and supporters hosted by the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, with guests being given the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of its facilities.

Thanking sponsors for their support, EADT editor Terry Hunt said that, despite the challenging economic climate of recent years, the awards had “continued to reveal impressive stories of success from a wide variety of businesses across the region” and this year should no exception.

“We would like to see as many businesses as possible enter the awards this year, so that the ceremony in July is a real celebration of the enterprise and excellence that is to be found in businesses across this region,” he added.

The line-up of categories this year includes awards for Medium to Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Start Up Business of the Year, Rural Business of the Year and Not-for-profit Business of the Year as well as an individual category for Business Person of the Year.

There will also be awards for Community Involvement, Customer Service, Diversity, Environment, Innovation & Transformation, International Trade, Marketing and Training & Development.

Category sponsors continuing to support the awards this year include Adnams, NatWest, Suffolk Agricultural Association, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Trebuchet, UK Power Networks and University Campus Suffolk, while new category sponsors include the Eastern Enterprise Hub, Suffolk’s Creating the Greenest County campaign and the School for Social Enterprise Suffolk.

All 14 category winners will go forward to be judged for the overall Business of the Year title, sponsored by Choose Suffolk.

Tim Passmore, chief executive of Choose Suffolk, said the organisation was “delighted” to continue its association with the awards.

“Bringing new business to our county is a high priority for Choose Suffolk and we know that by working in partnership with Archant these awards showcase the best of what Suffolk does”, he added.

For full details of the awards, visit www.eadt.co.uk/aba . Organisations throughout the EADT’s circulation are free to enter as many categories as they wish, subject to meeting the entry criteria, with a closing date for entries of Friday, May 20.

A shortlist will be published in early June and the winners will be announced at a black tie awards dinner to be held at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on Thursday, July 7, when the guest speaker and ceremony host will be John Humphrys, presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.