APPLICATIONS for the Malv-ern Hills District Council Plat-inum Awards for Business Excellence 2001 should be arriving at firms next week.

Companies large and small are invited to enter the competition, which helps raise the profile of the good work done in the district.

The awards, which aim to celebrate the achievements of local businesses, take into consideration the wide range of positive aspects involved in running a business, be it large or small, during 2001.

They include the creation of innovative products, customer liaison, training, reducing harm to the environment, diversification or business expansion.

For the competition, businesses are divided into seven categories: manufacturing, retail, arts, tourism, service, start-up and technology. Winners of each section will receive £500 and benefit from being able to use the phrase 'Malvern Hills District Council's Businesses Excellence Award Winner 2001' in promotional material.

An overall winner will also receive £1,000 and benefit from associated publicity.

Clarke Roxburgh, Waitrose, ART, QinetiQ, Barclays Bank and Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce sponsor each of the categories. MHDC, which set up the awards four years ago, sponsors the overall winner.

The closing date for entries is February 12. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Abbey Hotel at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 21.

Council chairman Coun Barbara Williams will also award a £500 prize in recognition of the achievements of a company which has overcome adversity or had to work particularly hard during the last year to alleviate problems.

Companies which do not receive a Platinum Award application but want to put themselves forward should contact Adrian Field on 01684 862361 or at adrian.field@ malvernhills.gov.uk