BUSINESS award fever is building up to a crescendo.

Our phones, faxes and dedicated competition website have been persistently buzzing with inquiries about how to enter the Evening Press Business Awards 2001.

In the ten years since they were first launched, the awards have become the most prestigious of their kind in the region, and this year will culminate in a glittering presentation evening at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York on December 6, hosted by Colin Hazelden, presenter of North Yorkshire Tonight on BBC Radio York..

Eight categories have been sponsored by Barclays Bank; DE Ford Insurance brokers; the York and North Yorkshire Export Forum; GNER; telecoms company Kingston inbusiness; Yorkshire Water; York chartered accountants Garbutt & Elliott and solicitors' practice Harrowell Shaftoe of Clifton Moor. The categories are Small Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Progress Through People Award, Growth Business of the Year, Best Environmental Company, Business Personality of the Year; and Use of New Technology Award.

All entries will be assessed for a profile article in the Evening Press of the pink monthly Business Press and for niche coverage on our award-winning 700,000+page impressions per month website on www.thisisyork.co.uk. Details about the awards - and an interactive entry form - can be found on a new dedicated website at www.epbusinesswards2001.co.uk. Or entry forms can be obtained from Sky Ferrey, Evening Press Business Awards 2001, PO Box 29, 76/86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN, telephone 01904 653051, or e-mail sky.ferrey@ycp.co.uk