TIME is running out for firms to be in with a chance of winning a share of a £10,000-plus prize fund in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph 1996 East Lancashire Business Awards.

If you haven't got an entry form yet, write to the address below, call our hotline on 01254 678678 ext 258, or fill in the form which will appear in Monday's paper.

We've already had some excellent entries for the five categories - from one-man bands to firms with multi-million turnovers - but we know there are plenty more great business stories out there to tell.

If your company has had a successful year of exporting, your boss or work colleague has made a major contribution or your firm's training policies have reaped real rewards, then why not get those achievements recognised?

This year's competition, sponsored by Lancashire Enterprises plc, ELTEC and Crown Eyeglass, also sees a new category for the Innovation/Invention of the Year, with a £1,000 first prize and an engraved silver salver for the winner and £250 and a trophy for the runner up.

The other categories are:

Company of the Year - £2,000 first prize and an engraved silver salver; £500 runners-up prize and a trophy.

Businessperson of the Year - £1,000 first prize and an engraved silver salver; £250 and a trophy for the runner-up.

Small Business of the Year (up to 50 employees) - £1,000 first prize and an engraved silver salver; £250 and a trophy for the runner-up.

Training Achievement Award - £1,000 first prize and an engraved silver salver; £250 and a trophy for the runner-up.

For entry forms and further details write to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards 1996, PO Box 19, Blackpool FY1 3NT. Closing date is March 29.

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