Award in your ears!

This area’s premier awards for business excellence have been launched to celebrate success in 2011.

The Rising Stars Bedfordshire and Luton Business Excellence Awards brings together organisers Premier Newspapers and our sponsors in a search for tales of success.

An independent panel of judges will be looking for innovation, inspiration and dedication.

Charles Little, director of major event sponsor Keens Shay Keens (KSK), is hoping that the early launch of Rising Stars will mean this year’s awards evening in November will be the best yet.

Mr Little was particularly pleased that last year’s awards attracted both a range of new entrants and from a wide spread of areas, including Cranfield and Leighton Buzzard.

Chartered accountants and business advisors KSK, based in Luton, Bedford and Biggleswade, are also looking to work with more corporate sponsors.

Another major sponsor already on board is Bedford College and its training services divison. The college, which has learning centres in Luton, Rushden and Bedford, is sponsoring the search for Apprentice of the Year.

Among the benefits for sponsors and category winners is extensive publicity in Premier Newspapers’ titles and websites across Bedfordshire and Luton.

Rebecca McCreath, group events and exhibitions manager at Premier Newspapers said: “I am really looking forward to the event as it will be my first business awards and I am enjoying working with the sponsors and businesses involved to celebrate their success.”

Sponsors should contact Rebecca by email to [email protected]

Entrants in any of the 10 categories should visit the awards website at www2.lutontoday.co.uk/risingstars2011 from tomorrow (Thursday, May 12).