STAND by for the announcement that the entire business community in North and East Yorkshire has been waiting for... the winner of the 2001 Evening Press Business of the Year.

As many as 33 finalists will converge on a packed Merchant Adventurers Hall, York, on Thursday night for the most glamorous and exciting event on the business calendar in our region.

Categories are - Exporter of the Year, Innovative Use of New Technology, Small Business of the Year, Growth Business of the Year, Progress Through People award, New Business of the Year, Environmental Company of the Year and Business Personality of the Year.

The host will be Colin Hazelden, producer and presenter of North Yorkshire Tonight on BBC Radio York, and guest speaker will be Steve McDermott, author of How To Be A Complete And Utter Failure in Life, Business and Everything. Watch out for a special report in Friday's Evening Press.