TIME is running out for businesses wanting to put themselves in the running to be crowned The Press Business Of The Year.

The 17th annual awards ceremony will take place at York Racecourse on November 15, but the closing date for entries is July 6.

All businesses, from sole traders to plcs, are eligible to enter - provided they are based in our circulation area, which radiates from York to the North York Moors; and from Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington across to Harrogate.

Businesses have a choice of 15 different categories, which this year include two new ones - Tourism And Hospitality Business Of The Year and the International Trade Award.

Exclusive Footwear Ltd, based in Gillygate, York, is hoping to come out top in the Women In Enterprise category.

It was launched in 2005 by Frances Chalmers, who said she was inspired to found her own shoe empire after an unsuccessful hunt in York for a pair of designer shoes to give her husband.

Her shop, in Gillygate, is accompanied by a website - and stocks top designs for men and women.

The former IT sales director, who launched the business only six months after giving birth to her son, Alexander, said: "I spent months visiting shoe companies and travelling to Milan and London putting together our winter collection.

"It was quite tough because not only had I just had my son, but many of the shoe designers I approached turned me down point blank.

"In the end, I went to meet with three of them personally in London and told them to get on board or miss out. I came back with all three of them signed up."

Two years later, Frances is about to give birth to her second child, but is still managing to juggle work and family life and is now turning away designers who want to be represented by Exclusive Footwear.

To enter visit our competition visit www.thepressbusinessawards.co.uk and study the categories and their criteria. Select up to two of those categories, write up to 1,000 words either for each of them, or to cover both, then copy and paste it into our website's interactive entry form. All entrants will also be considered for the overall The Press Business of the Year 2007 accolade.

Those who would prefer a hard copy version of the entry form should phone Kim Heard on 01904 567176.


Business award categories

* Small Business Of The Year* Large Business Of The Year* Tourism And Hospitality Business Of The Year* Science And Technology Business Of The Year* Retailer Of The Year* New Business Of The Year* Growth Business Of The Year* Think Green Business Of The Year* Young Business Entrepreneur Of The Year* Business Personality Of The Year* Best Business And Education Link* Progress Through People* Women In Enterprise Award* International Trade Award* Lifetime Achievement Award