Th is award aims to recognise individuals who have been in their role for 12 months or less and who are making a significant difference in their company or organisation .

Judges will be looking for someone who stands out in their performance, demonstrates enterprise and initiative and a drive for self- improvement that has had a positive impact in their work environment,. Nominations are welcome regardless of age or time spent with a company.

This award is open to individuals of any age. Judges will be looking for evidence of a nominee's continuous commitment to reaching their full potential through learning and personal development, which has made a positive contribution to the success of the organisation they represent.

Individuals may make nominations, but judges will expect to see testimonials from colleagues and/or customers. Applications are welcome from the private, public and voluntary sector.

This award is for an employer, a training provider or an individual who has made an impact on a person or group of people's lives by recognising that they have potential or untapped skills.

This award is open to all businesses and organisations, regardless of size or activity, which have shown outstanding concern for the environment and can demonstrate a business commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Judges will be looking for evidence of practical measures adopted to increase environmental awareness, reduce waste and improve recycling rates, environmental efficiency, and community involvement, where appropriate

This award is open to all businesses and organisations, regardless of their size and area of activity. The judges will be looking for exemplary customer service, over and above usual expectations.

The winner will be able to demonstrate how the business has benefited from a commitment to customer care through the tracking of customer satisfaction levels and by how staff are trained and motivated to meet customer needs. Judges will expect to see a variety of testimonials from satisfied customers, and suppliers where appropriate

This award is open to all companies, regardless of size or activity. The winner will have developed their business through the innovative use of online technology, but not necessarily through a public website presence.

Judges will be looking for evidence that any nominated website has had a significant impact on the business, or for examples of increased efficiency, flexibility and profitability made possible by online technology solutions.

The winner of this award will be able to demonstrate how their overall performance has matched their business plans, how their product/ brand/store/premises/innovation has contributed to the growth and success of the business, and how they have developed their staff in order to achieve their goals.

Judges will also expect to see testimonials from satisfied customers.

This award is open to companies that have been trading for less than two years (Established May 2005) and which has made a successful entry into the business community.

Open to all companies employing fewer than 50 people (FTE equivalent). The winner will be able to show a clear understanding of the markets in which it operates and have a structured business plan, evidence of goals set and achieved, a dedication to customer satisfaction and a commitment to staff training and development.

Judges will be looking to recognise a new company, product or service developed since January 2006, which has made a positive contribution to the economy of Bedfordshire and Luton, or a public sector project that has had a beneficial impact on business in the area.

Judges will be looking for evidence of efficiency savings, product take-up and customer testimonial where appropriate. Training and development strategies and community involvement will also be taken into account.

This award is open to all companies, regardless of size, that show a supportive and structured approach to training their staff.

The judges will be looking for evidence of learning and development, which is evaluated and has clear links between the company's business goals and training objectives.

Contenders for this coveted award will be selected from the entries short-listed in the categories for new business of the year, small/medium business of the year, www.business of the year, best retail/leisure business award and the green business award.