THE Best New Business Awards returns for a third year to celebrate the rising stars of the Tees Valley business world and the region's future entrepreneurs.

Already more than 115 entries have been received for the event and organisers Business Link and Canada Life and programme sponsor, One NorthEast, are urging further start-up businesses from across the Tees Valley to come forward.

There are ten awards categories which are: community, cultural, arts and crafts, environmental, manufacturing, retail, service, technology, innovation and design, young person and the overall award for the business that has displayed outstanding potential in its particular field.

Hartlepool based Deli Express took away the Overall Award as well as the Retail Award at last year's event.

The sandwich business which was set up in July 2001 had only been up and running for four months when it received the accolade which recognised their uncompromising quality, choice and affordability.

The Best News Business Awards were created by Colin Brown, senior executive consultant at Middlesbrough based Canada Life as a way of identifying, supporting and recognising new business start-up ventures.

He said: "With the support and encouragement of Business Link and One NorthEast, we look forward to another successful year featuring even greater representation from the entrepreneurial new business community in the Tees Valley."

The Best New Business Awards 2002 will culminate in a prestigious Awards Dinner for all short-listed businesses and sponsors, which will be held at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough on February 4, 2003.

Anybody wishing to enter the awards should contact Colin Brown at Canada Life on Tel: (01642) 862177 for an entry form.