THE black-tie gala presentation evening to announce the winners of the 2011 Burton Mail Business Awards has already sold out.
Around 270 people will descend on Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium on the night of October 13 to see the lucky winners claim their prizes.
The calibre of finalists, exclusively revealed in today’s Mail on the adjacent page, is higher than ever before, organisers have said. The record number of entrants sets this year’s awards to be the biggest and best yet.
Awards director Dave Bryon, who also heads the Burton and District Chamber of Commerce, said: “Not only do we have a record number of entrants, but the standard of this year’s nominees was higher than last year’s.
“The finalists in all categories were very competitive.
“The judges will be meeting with the finalists to discuss their entries before meeting again at the end of September, when they will review the finalists and decide on the winners.”
Mr Bryon continued: “The awards evening has already sold out, with 270 people set to fill the Pirelli Stadium to celebrate the best of business in Burton, Uttoxeter and Swadlincote.”
There were around 60 nominees for this year’s awards and these have been whittled down to 31 finalists across 11 categories.
The judging panel, made up of representatives from East Staffordshire Borough Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Burton and South Derbyshire College and the Burton Mail, will now have to decide which finalists are worthy of the region’s top awards.
The awards evening will be sponsored by Mace Midlands Limited and will begin at 7pm on October 13.
