THE postman delivering this year's Evening Press Business Awards 2003 entries is having a busy time of it.

Interested firms are bombarding us with this year's submissions - and there are still a few months left to get your "winning" entries considered for the prestigious competition.

As well as being in the frame for one of the most important awards in the local business world, every entry is also the focus of a profile story. Tens of thousands of customers will see your message in the Evening Press, or the pink monthly Business Press. Entries will also be paraded on our website, www.thisisyork.co.uk

With a dozen categories to choose from, there's no excuse for not giving your business a chance to shine on the Evening Press podium.

The deadline for this year's awards is Friday, August 8, with the glittering awards ceremony held at York Racecourse's £20 million Ebor Stand on Thursday, November 20.

Broadcaster Colin Hazelden will host the event, and GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett will give the guest speech.

The Evening Press Business Awards 2003 are open to any businesses based in the Press circulation area. We radiate from York to the North York Moors and from Goole to Bridlington and Scarborough.

The categories are growth business of the year, best tourism and leisure business of the year, new business of the year, e-commerce business of the year, lifetime achievement, retailer of the year, small business of the year, best use of technology, best business and education link, young business entrepreneur and progress through people. To enter, choose up to two of the 12 categories, decide how you meet the guidelines and tell your story in up to 2,500 words.

You can enter online at our website or, if you would prefer a hard copy of the entry form, contact Sky Ferrey, Evening Press Business Awards 2003, PO Box 29, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, telephone 01904 653051 or email sky.ferrey@ycp.co.uk

Anyone who legitimately enters any category (or categories) will also be considered for the overall Evening Press Business of the Year accolade.

Entries must relate to successes measured by the organisation or individual in the last 12 months.

The hard copy entry must be typed or completed clearly in ink using one side of each A4 page only, and must be accompanied by the completed entry form. Supporting documents are not to be sent.

Please do not fold, staple or bind your entry. Employees of the Evening Press and all other publications within York and County Press are ineligible to enter.

Also ineligible are those who work for any of the sponsor organisations.

Updated: 12:00 Tuesday, June 24, 2003