THE title of ECHO Enterprise Champion 2006 is hotly contested . . . and this year's winner will be in great company.
Liverpool's Baa Bar was unveiled as the overall Enterprise Champion last year after impressing judges with its ambitious growth and expansion plans that now extend across the north west.
This year's award, sponsored by Land Rover, is open to any business, or individual, that has demonstrated the most outstanding business achievement.
As a brand, the Land Rover marque has a strong history of enterprise and innovation and is keen to support the continued growth of exciting new business ideas in the north west.
Land Rover arrived in Merseyside earlier this year when the Halewood operations plant started gearing up for production of the next generation Freelander.
The plant, based in south Liverpool, currently produces the award-winning Jaguar X-Type and employs 2,300 people.
Last year, Hale-wood was named Europe's top automotive plant for quality when the facility was awarded the influential JD Power Plant Gold Award for Quality.
Lucy Reynolds, corporate affairs manager for Land Rover, said: "We believe that it takes a unique combination of qualities to become an Enterprise Champion - initiative, intelligence and above all, the determination to succeed. Merseyside has a reputation for establishing some of the country's most brilliant new businesses, so we're delighted to be supporting this year's awards."
The 2006 Enterprise Champions Awards comprise six categories: best small business; social enterprise; young business person of the year; best new business; best micro business; and enterprise champion.
However, the best new business category is not open to the social enterprise/charitable/notfor-profit business sectors. Applicants for all the awards are eligible to apply for the overall ECHO Enterprise Champion 2006 honour. The closing date for entries is May 17.
This year's final will be staged at the Pan American Club at Liverpool's Albert Dock on June 28. Tickets priced at £15+VAT can be obtained by contacting the competition hotline on 0151-472 2805, which also offers information on how to apply. Or you can apply online here
