The Sussex Business Awards are fast approaching – and this year organisers have introduced a brand new category.

The event, on December 10 at The Grand hotel in Brighton, is on the lookout for the Young Sussex Businessperson of the Year. Sponsored by Sussex Downs College, the new category will recognise the achievements of youthful entrepreneurs aged between 16 and 25 who have demonstrated a passion and flair for business.

Nominations can come from any background ranging from IT and catering to PR or construction – but judges are looking for an individual who has demonstrated a high degree of ambition, drive, creativity and vision.

Wayne Wright, vice principal for curriculum and enterprise at Sussex Downs College, said: “Sussex is increasingly recognised as a hub for digital media outside of London, with a high start-up business rate, even in challenging economic times and young people are often at the vanguard of this movement.

“For this award we are looking for young entrepreneurs who are the business leaders of tomorrow.”

The college is well known for nurturing entrepreneurial talent. This year A2 Computing student Lukas Ondrej was selected as a winner of Jisc’s Summer of Innovation Project - scooping a £5,000 grant to develop his mobile app project, known as Lingoflow.

Principal Wright added: “It is talent such as this that we want to recognise and celebrate with this award. We may just meet the Karren Brady or Richard Branson of the future.”

The Young Sussex Businessperson of the Year is one of sixteen awards that will be presented at The Grand on December 10. The awards are free to enter.

Sussex Downs College joins a prestigious sponsor line up of some of the best known names in the county including Morgan Sindall, Mazars, Domestic and General, Legal and General, Mayo Wynne Baxter, Sussex Business Times, Heart FM, The Argus, HSBC Bank and Sussex Innovation Centre and Wealden District Council.

The judges want to hear from young people who have the skills and strengths to make their vision a reality.

They should be able to show a plan for the future of their business and demonstrate evidence of vision and leadership, as well as testimonial evidence of their current success.

Entries should be around one thousand words and no more than two pages of A4.

Once you have written your entry, save it as a PDF and submit online at www.sbawards.org.uk.

Other accolades to be awarded this year include Company of the Year, the International Company of the Year and individual awards for entrepreneurship and business success. Applicants have until August 29 to file their submissions.