ONE of the most prestigious dates on the Bolton and Bury calendar, the Bolton and Bury Business Awards are back for 2016.

And we want the best of Bolton and Bury businesses to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the awards with a great night out at the Macron Stadium on September 8 when the cream of the business world will be taking the the honours.

Businesses, large or small can enter and walk off with one of the eleven prestigious titles.

And this year we have a new category — Business of the Decade.

Once again Bolton Council and the University of Bolton are headlines sponsors.

There categories cover all aspects of business, from Retailer of the Year to Apprentice/Young Person and from Family Business to Customer Excellence, and of course, Business of the Year.

We also have some old friends as sponsors again, including Stateside Foods, MBDA, The Market Place, KBL solicitors, Carrs Pasties, The Chinese Buffet and Willmott Dixon Construction.

And we welcome two news sponsors in Bristol Street Motors and KBS Corporate.

The categories and sponsors are:

Business of the Decade — KBS Corporate

Business of the Year — sponsored by Stateside Foods

SME of the Year — sponsored by Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd

Apprentice/Young Person of the Year — MBDA of Lostock

Family Business of the Year — Carrs Pasties

Customer Excellence — The Chinese Buffet

We're Backing Bolton/Bury — Bristol Street Motors

Retailer of the Year —The Market Place

Business Person of the Year — KBL solicitors.

Best Company for Apprentice Development and Start Up Business of the Year make up the last categories.

It is easy to enter just go to http://www.newsquestnorthwest.co.uk/business-awards.html

Fill in the entry form and send it back. Closing date is Friday, July 29.

Entrants who want to submit any further evidence or testimonials can do so by contacting Lynn Ashwell, Deputy Editor on 01204 537277 or email lynn.ashwell@nqnw.co.uk

We look forward to a great night in September when the best of Bolton and Bury businesses will be crowned.