PRIZES totalling £3,000 are on offer in the 2006 Dartford Business Awards.

Businesses in the borough are to be given the opportunity to shine as the competition gets under way.

It is the second year for the awards following on a highly successful launch last year.

This year, the awards promise to be bigger and better with entry widened to businesses with a turnover of up to £5m.

There will be two categories. The first is for those companies whose annual turnover is under £3m and a second category for those with turnover between £3m and £5m per annum.

The judges will decide upon an overall winner from both sections and entrants from last year are eligible to enter again.

The size of the company does not matter, and can cover firms with a single proprietor to a large business, from service providers to manufacturing industries.

This is a great chance to promote your business, as every week the Dartford Messenger will feature profiles of all the entrants to the awards.

The companies sponsoring the awards are: Adecco, Dartford Borough Council, North Kent Chamber of Commerce, the University of Kent at Medway, Lloyds TSB Corporate Banking, Barnes Roffe chartered accountants, Vizards Wyeth and the Dartford Messenger, part of the KM Group.

Trevor Sturgess, Kent Messenger Group’s business editor, said: “The first Dartford Business Awards were a tremendous success last year and I am pleased that they are going to be bigger and better this time.

“Dartford business has an unprecedented opportunity to flourish over the next few years. The challenge is to create good jobs to spare people from having to travel to London every day.

“That’s why growing smaller businesses are so important. They are creating the jobs of tomorrow.

“There are some great prizes and publicity on offer this year and I urge firms to enter.”

Entry forms will appear in the Dartford Messenger every week, and the sponsors’ offices. The closing date for entries is April 14, 2006. Or e-mail your entries to dba@northkentchamber.org

Overall prizes to the value of £3,000 are on offer for the finalists, who will receive their awards at a glitzy gala evening at Acacia Hall, Dartford, on June 9.

Judging will take place from mid-April onwards and finalists will then be contacted and visited by a panel of judges.