THE Pendle Business Awards are back for a fifth year and local firms and smaller enterprises are encouraged to get their entries in.

Application forms for Pendle Business Awards 2016 go live from Monday, February 15, until Friday, March 18, and can be downloaded at pendle.gov.uk/businessawards. It is expected there will be ten categories to choose from.

Pendle Council and Pendle Vision are jointly organising the awards ceremony, which will be held at the Fence Gate Inn on Thursday, June 9.

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said: “This is a fantastic platform to put Pendle and its thriving economy in the spotlight and let the world know about the fantastic companies we have here.”

Dennis Mendoros OBE, chairman of Pendle Vision and president of Kelbrook-based Euravia Engineering and Supply Co Ltd, said: “Pendle has the highest concentrations of employment in advanced manufacturing in the UK with a significant number of very high profile businesses.

“Many of our award winning and innovative businesses are recognised as some of the most enterprising in the UK.

“Pendle Business Awards give us the chance to put the spotlight on these companies as well as those more recently established.”

Dean Langton, strategic director of Pendle Council, added: “Whether you’re a one-man band with a local specialist trade; a growing small to medium-sized business or a large company with a worldwide reputation, there’ll be a category for you.”

Judges will shortlist entries in early March and will start to visit the successful businesses in April so entrants can present their case for winning an award.