BUSINESSES across Waveney are being urged to get their entries in for an annual awards ceremony hosted by Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce.

The Lowestoft and Waveney Business Awards will take place in December.

And local firms are being encouraged to be quick to get in their entries, for there are just three weeks to go until the closing date of November 12.

Gwyneth Barnes, of Touchstone Productions, who won the Lowestoft and Waveney Business Growth Award in 2009 for an organisation with fewer than 10 employees, called on local businesses to try for an award this time around.

'We were delighted to win the Business Growth Award; receiving such an accolade not only recognises the achievement of Touchstone Productions but also the team behind it and the service we provide to our customers, which ultimately has enabled us to grow,' she said.

Adding it was 'a great way of putting your business in the spotlight'.

This week, the Britten Centre and the Lowestoft Town Management Partnership united to sponsor two categories in the Business Awards, which will be celebrated at a dinner on December 2 at the Zest Rooms at Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton.

They are co-sponsoring the Shop Assistant of the Year and Store Manager of the Year categories and are hoping for a good response to the appeal from satisfied customers.

A spokesman said: 'If, as a customer, you feel you have received a special service from a member of staff or manager in a shop and feel your praises of their customer service need to be heard, then please nominate them for our prestigious award.

'Or, if you work in a shop and feel that your manager or even a colleague deserves an award, then all you have to do is fill in an application form.'

'All members of the public may nominate a shop assistant and/or manager that goes that extra mile.

'It is now time to give due recognition to those at the front line.'

Nominations can be made online at www.waveneychamber.co.uk, or send your entries for the Shop Assistant of the Year and Store Manager of the Year to: Lowestoft Town Management Partnership, Unit 29, Riverside Business Centre, Riverside Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0TQ.

The Lowestoft & Waveney Business Award categories include:

Business Excellence & Innovation Award (Sponsored by Adnams); Business Growth Award (Sponsored by Graphics Matter); Business Investment Award (Sponsored by Peter Aldous MP for Waveney); Business of the Year Award (Sponsored by Pilot Drilling Control); Business Person of the Year Award (Sponsored by One Estates); Business Start-up Award (Sponsored by Business Link East); Community Impact Award (Sponsored by Essex & Suffolk Water); Excellence In Customer Service Award (Sponsored by M. R. King); Dynamic Team Award (Sponsored by Blue Lobster); Environmental School or College Award (Sponsored by V.C. Cooke); Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Award (applicants under 20yrs of age & over 20yrs of age, Sponsored by Potters); Innovation & Skills Award (Sponsored by The Waveney Economic Partnership & 1st East); Inspiring Lifelong Learning Award (Sponsored by Small & Co Marine & Engineering Ltd); International Trade Award (Sponsored by Harrod UK); Manufacturing Award (Sponsored by AKD); Regeneration and Community Development Award (Sponsored by Suffolk County Council); Shop Assistant of the Year Award (Sponsored by The Britten Centre & Lowestoft Town Management Partnership); Store Manager of the Year Award

(Sponsored by The Britten Centre & Lowestoft Town Management Partnership); Suffolk Greenest County Environment Award (Sponsored by Suffolk County Council); Training for Growth Award (Sponsored by Lowestoft College); Young Environmentalist of the Year Award (Sponsored by V. C. Cooke).For the full list of awards and details of how to enter, visit www.waveneychamber.co.uk or telephone 01502 502200.