FORMER Blackburn Rovers star and now multi-millionaire business tycoon David Whelan will be the guest speaker at the 1997 Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards.

Mr Whelan, chairman of the £300 million JJB Sports empire, has agreed to join us for the gala presentation evening for this year's prestigious awards, taking place at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel on June 27.

With his unique combination of business acumen and sporting achievement he promises to be a fascinating speaker.

Mr Whelan first went into business in the early 1960's with a £500 bonus he received from Blackburn Rovers in their FA Cup year. He invested his windfall in a corner shop in Tewkesbury Street, Blackburn.

From there he built up a chain of grocery shops in the North West before selling our for £1 million in 1978.

By then he was in his early forties and, bored with his early retirement, decided to buy a small sports shop based in Wigan - JJ Broughton - for £11,000. Since then it has grown into the country's most famous name in sports retailing.

Entries are flooding in for this year's awards, which boast a prize pot of more than £14,000 in cash awards and trophies available, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors ELTEC, Lancashire Enterprises plc, solicitors Farleys and media game specialists Europrint Group. The awards aim to promote and encourage excellence at all levels in the East Lancashire business community - from one-man bands to major corporations employing thousands.

They celebrate the success of enterprise in all its forms, from start-up businesses to fast track growth companies and industrial giants. There are eight categories open to businesses and organisations, including three new ones.

The Marketing and Sales Promotion Achievement award, sponsored by Europrint Group, aims to highlight companies which use innovative and imaginative marketing and sales promotion techniques.

The Business in the Community Achievement award, sponsored by Farleys, is open to companies who can demonstrate a real commitment to and partnership with the community they work in - from encouraging teams of staff to help out at local schools to long-term environmental projects to make their local areas better places to live.

The Young Business of the Year category, sponsored by ELTEC, aims to find businesses aged between 18 months and three years that can demonstrate growth potential.

The winning entrants will have their prizes awarded at a gala presentation evening in the summer. Entry forms are available now by contacting 01253 28928, or the Lancashire Evening Telegraph business desk on 01254 678678 ext 258, or by writing to East Lancashire Business Awards, PO Box 19, Blackpool FY1 3NT. Closing date is April 4. The category structure is as follows :

Company of the Year - First prize: £2,000 and an engraved silver salver; Runner up £500 and trophy

Businessperson of the Year - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up £250 and trophy

Small Business of the Year - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up £250 and trophy (open to companies employing up to 50)

Training Award - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up £250 and trophy

Product Development Award - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up £250 and trophy

Marketing and Sales Promotion Award - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up £250 and trophy

Young Business of the Year - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up £250 and trophy

Business in the Community Award - First prize: £1,000 and engraved silver salver; Runner-up- £250 and trophy

Highly commended awards will also be made in each category at the judges' discretion.

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