YOUNG firms in the Tees Valley are being encouraged to enter an exciting new awards competition.

Sponsored by Canada Life, Marketing Assessments, and The Northern Echo, The Best New Business in Tees Valley Awards have been designed to recognise and reward those businesses in the Tees Valley area which will be the future creators of wealth and employment .

"This award programme will recognise the dynamic and growing companies that are really setting the pace in the Tees Valley," said Peter Barron, The Northern Echo's editor.

To qualify for entry, businesses must be less than three years old as of June 1, 2000, and be in the Teesside or Darlington postcode area.

Award categories are: overall business award winner, sponsored by The Northern Echo; best innovative business, sponsored by Canada Life; best technology business, sponsored by NTL; best manufacturing business, sponsored by Barclays; best service business, sponsored by Jarreds Office Equipment Group; best young person's business, sponsored by InBiz; and best environmental business, sponsored by the Federation of Small Businesses.

An exciting range of awards and benefits have been created. Each of the awards' sponsors will provide a prestigious prize appropriate to the sponsors' services and of appropriate benefit to the winning business.

The closing date for entries is September 4. The awards will be presented at ceremony at Hallgarth Hotel in late October or early November.

For details and entry criteria, contact Colin Brown at Canada Life on (01642) 862177, or Tony Taylor at Marketing Assessments on (01642) 655000. Entry forms are also available from The Northern Echo offices.