BUSINESSES in York and North Yorkshire are being given an extra chance to be part of the 25th Anniversary Press Business Awards.

For a quarter of a century the awards have recognised the achievements of all kinds of businesses, large and small, across different sectors and in various areas of best practice.

Entries have been pouring in from across the region, with the awards open to businesses within the circulation area of The Press.

The awards, sponsored by insurance firm Hiscox, will celebrate the triumphs on business in 15 different categories, with an overall winner announced on the night.

With the finalists announced in August, the awards culminate in a celebratory evening, with a glittering black tie dinner at York Racecourse on November 19.

The deadline was tomorrow, but in order to give business across the patch the chance to be shout about their success, we’ve extended it by a further two weeks.

Businesses now have until Friday, August 7 to enter, with the chance to submit up to two entries from a choice of 14 categories.

The awards include a number of new categories this year including the Best People Development award, open to those businesses in the region which have demonstrated a strong commitment to developing their staff.

Judge are keen to hear how businesses have established a learning and development strategy, and the types and extent of the learning and development methods employed, as well as the impact learning and development has made to the performance of the business.

The Corporate Investment Award is our second new category for 2015, open to organisations and businesses with an office or a presence in the region, that have played a part in a deal, or deals, which have resulted in a business in the region receiving investment.

The category is designed for an organisation or business that have either made an investment, or arranged or advised on a funding deal.

Other returning awards include the Best Business and Higher Education Link, which is open to those businesses in the region which have successfully forged positive links with Higher Education Institutions (HEI), such as universities and colleges offering HE qualifications.

Judges are keen to hear about the benefits to business from this activity, and the approaches adopted to build business and HE links.

For more information on all 14 categories, and to enter the awards, visit www.thepressbusinessawards.co.uk