Belfast Business Awards On Way

Local businesses successes will be celebrated at a prestigious business awards later this month.

UTV's Marc Mallett is looking forward to hosting the Belfast Business Awards which will take place in the City Hall on Thursday 29 April.

Space NK.apothecary founder Nicky Kinnaird will co-host the awards alongside the UTV presenter.

The awards are organised by Belfast City Council and will recognise and celebrate the achievements of business enterprises, retail outlets and businessmen and women across the city.

Businesses across Belfast will be commended for their fine achievements at the hotly contested and highly anticipated Belfast Business Awards this month.

Belfast City Council will host the awards which will cover all sectors of the business world with awards for the Best New Business; Best Creative Industries; Best Manufacturing Business; Best Bar or Pub; Best Restaurant; Best City Hotel or Guest House and Best Café or Coffee Shop.

Awards will also be bestowed on companies with the Best Business Expansion; the Best Innovative Use of IT; the Best Marketing Initiative and Best International Trade links.

The success of young entrepreneurs in the city will be recognised with the Best Young Person of the Year Award while the Best City Regeneration Project Award is open to all organisations in Belfast that have been involved in the development of a regeneration project over the past three years which has significantly improved and revitalised an area in the city.

John McGrillen, Belfast City Council's Director of Development, said: "Belfast is a lively, exciting city with a diverse range of small, medium and large businesses - many of which have continued to innovate and prosper during these incredibly difficult and challenging economic times.

"Despite the downturn though, the city has success stories to celebrate and the Belfast Business Awards will honour these, making the event one of the highlights of the city's social calendar.

"We are thrilled to have Marc Mallet and Nicky Kinnaird as hosts and are certain that they will make the event on the 29 April, a night to remember."

Marc Mallett said: "I am delighted to be hosting the Belfast Business Awards which recognise and celebrate businesses in Belfast for their achievements and I am looking forward to what promises to be a great night for everyone involved."

The Belfast Business Awards are organised by Belfast City Council with support from Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM).

Principal awards' sponsors are the Arts Council for Northern Ireland and the DSD who are also sponsoring two individual awards' categories for Best Creative Industries (Arts Council) and the DSD (Best City Regeneration Project).

See: www.belfastbusinessawards.com

(BMcC/GK)