A FORMER winner of the Bolton Business Awards has urged people to get involved.

Andrew Dickson, of Bolton FM, said he was delighted when the station won the community award at last year’s event.

He said: “These awards are the business event of the year. They highlight the best businesses in Bolton from the community-based businesses to the biggest.”

Once again we will be celebrating the best of local businesses at our awards ceremony at The Macron Stadium on Thursday, September 27.

Saeed, who runs the XPlode magazine, said: “The awards are great. The fact it is free to enter means nobody is excluded. The recognition we have received from winning the award has been brilliant.”

We have launched the search to find the best in the business — with 15 categories, from Family Business of the Year through to Manufacturer of the Year.

The awards which represent Bolton’s finest, are now in their 13th year.

Our sponsors, who will help to judge the entries, include headline sponsor Bolton Council.

Sponsoring individual categories again are Market Place Bolton (Business of the Year), MBDA (Manufacturer of the Year), Bristol Street Motors (Customer Excellence) and Stateside Foods (SME Business of the Year).

The host for the evening will be Darren Proctor, who currently broadcasts on Key 2 Radio and Key103.

The awards presentation will follow a three-course meal and at the end of the evening there will be music from a DJ. This year, entering the 15 award categories is easier than ever.

Simply log on to theboltonnews.co.uk and click on the business awards link to see the category criteria and complete the application form. Entries close on Friday June 22..