Potential sponsors are being advised to act fast if they wish to support this year's Eastbourne Business Awards.

The event takes place at the town's five-star Grand Hotel on October 28.

This event has gone from strength to strength in the past two years, with a steady increase in entrants, sponsors and guests.

Local companies wishing to be associated with the event are invited to sponsor individual award categories at a price of £2,000.

However, companies are being urged to apply without delay due to the limited number of categories that are now available.

Sponsors so far include CMS, Natwest, Mercedes-Benz, Mayo & Perkins, Sussex Downs, Chalvington Barns and jewellers W Bruford.

CMS, the event's main sponsor for the past three years, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Formed by managing director Adrian Teulon, the company leads the way in high-quality customer-focused engineering service.

Originally specialists in the field of photo-process engineering, CMS continues to evolve and now supplies its unique blend of service provision to the medical, cash machine and dry-cleaning industries.

It is also a market leader in the rapidly changing environment of the photo-finishing industry.

For local businesses, the awards provide the perfect opportunity for publicity for both entrants and sponsors. Entry forms cost £30 per category, with no limit on the number of categories entered.

The 11 categories are:

Best New Business
Best Contribution to the Community
Customer Care
Employee of the Year
Employer of the Year
Hospitality Tourism and Leisure
Independent Retailer
Manufacturing and Construction Company of the Year
Professional Business
Small Business
Significant Contribution to Business
The winner of each category will be entered to compete for the prestigious title of Eastbourne Business of the Year 2005, which will be presented by a high-profile celebrity.

For more information, including sponsorship, call Fatimah Peersaib, of Tim Cobb Associates, on 01323 416999, or Bobbie Scragg, at Sussex Enterprise, on 01444 259259.

Alternatively, log on to the web site at www.eastbournebusinessawards.com .

June 23, 2005