THE Big Chip Awards for North-west companies excelling in the use of IT and digital technology are back.

Organiser Manchester Digital is inviting companies from all sectors across Bolton to submit their entries for the 2007 awards.

Digital sector companies and all businesses, creative agencies and organisations that have undertaken digital initiatives in the past year are free to enter.

Now in its ninth year, this year's Big Chip Awards has twenty-six categories, including sub-regional categories for Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire & Warrington.

Entries can be submitted online at www.bigchipawards.com. The closing date is March 12 and the awards will be announced at a dinner on May 23, at New Century Hall, in Manchester.

Shaun Fensom, chair of Manchester Digital, said: "The Big Chip Awards offers a great opportunity for our sector to shout about the excellence and best practice in the region."