The Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards - run in association with the Learning and Skills Council Lancashire - will reward the best of industry and commerce in the region.

A glittering awards ceremony at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel on February 20 will be the climax of a search to find the companies and individuals that have most made their mark on East Lancashire.

A total of £9,000 in prizes will be awarded to the winners of the eight top awards in what is sure to be a keenly-fought contest. In addition to the support of the Learning and Skills Council Lancashire, the awards are also sponsored by PM&M Chartered Accountants, the East Lancashire Partnership and the University of Central Lancashire.

Steve Palmer, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council Lancashire, is delighted to be involved in the East Lancashire Business Awards which he believes will put the spotlight on the many companies that are making their mark both in the UK and internationally.

He said: "People are the most important asset of any business and we are committed to helping provide the skills that are needed by business and industry.

"I can virtually guarantee that a common factor in any corporate success story is that the organisation is committed to the personal development of its workforce and seeks to develop workforce heroes.

"The LSC is responsible for all further education and work-based learning in Lancashire and has invested more than £200 million in the past year.

"A priority is to ensure the needs of learners are met and that employers have access to a highly-skilled workforce. This ensures employers can meet future skills needs and develop heroes in the workplace.

"Skills are valuable - everyone can benefit from increased skills levels. And improving our international competitiveness demands better skills."

The East Lancashire Business Awards 2002 were the biggest and best in the history of the competition. For the 2003 Awards, we aim to make them bigger and better still.

Last year's Company of the Year was Promethean, the Blackburn-based company at the forefront of an international high-tech classroom revolution.

The runner up was Formfill of Blackburn, which has emerged as a world leader in e-business software, and in third place was high-tech engineering company Brookhouse Composites of Darwen.

The 2003 awards are open to companies of all sizes, operating across all sectors. The competition aims to recognise flair, enterprise and achievement as well as initiatives to improve training and individual development for employees and employers.

The awards are structured to spotlight individual heroes who make a real difference to the success of their business and individual companies.

They promote the importance of business and industry in generating wealth and jobs in the local community. They celebrate the success of enterprise in all its forms - from one-person start-up businesses to fast-track growth companies.

The awards provide a unique opportunity to put your business performance to the test.They will demonstrate your commitment to your customers and to delivering quality products and services.

They showcase the strength of East Lancashire as a major centre for business, both in the UK and across the globe.

Lancashire was the powerhouse of the first industrial revolution and we know that the same spirit of enterprise and innovation is still alive today.

While manufacturing may no longer be the dominant force it once was, new service industries have tapped into the the area's talent pool to establish businesses that are market leaders.

East Lancashire Business - the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's monthly business supplement - has already uncovered many of the 'jewels in the crown' of our region's commercial success.

We are sure there are many more with the same flair and determination. We want to put them in the spotlight by featuring them in forthcoming editions of East Lancashire Business.