THE Fifth Harlow and District Business Awards will be presented at the Manor of Groves Hotel and Golf Club, High Wych, on Friday, September 16.

Announcing the launch of this year's awards, Harlow and District Business Awards Ltd and the Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce say they aim to create a positive arena for local businesses to showcase their achievements, to encourage them to reach for the stars.

The purpose of the awards is to project Harlow and the surrounding areas as a progressive location with developing companies across a wide variety of sectors, to encourage new companies to relocate to the area.

This will give out a clear message to outside business that Harlow and the surrounding district is the place to be when it comes to a first-rate business location. Production of the fifth annual Harlow and District Business Awards is well underway, and businesses are being asked to take their business to new heights' and enter one of the 15 categories.

They include Small Business of the Year, Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, Business Innovation, Retailer of the year and many others (see entry form).

Current sponsors include A & A Windows, Lighterlife, Pitney Bowes, Price Bailey, BAA Stansted, GlaxoSmithKline, Raytheon Systems Ltd, Response Data Communications, Arrow Electronics, Harlow Council, Jumpin Jaks, Newsquest and Ten 17 FM.

There are still opportunities for companies to sponsor some of the categories and organisers would like particularly to encourage smaller businesses to enquire about joint sponsorship.

For more details, contact Rachelle Fogerty on 01279 408270 or email rfogerty@ harlowchamber.co.uk.

Organisers are promising a few surprises at the presentation evening.

The Harlow and District Business Awards would like to recognise the achievements of local businesses and only the best and most committed can win one of these prestigious awards. If you think your company is the best, then why not enter? Entering could not be easier.

Tick which categories you are interested in, cut out our the coupon and send it to Linda Macmaster, Harlow Business Awards Ltd, Suite 72, Greenway Business Centre, Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5QE, or email Linda@harlowbusinessawards.co.uk The closing date is July 1.