BUSINESSES across Burnley and Padiham are being invited to submit their entries for the prestigious 2007 Burnley Business and Innovation Awards.

This sponsorship funded event, on Thursday September 20 at Towneley Hall, is organised by Burnley Borough Council to honour and reward businesses that are making a difference in Burnley.

Burnley Council and event sponsors want to acknowledge the contributions local businesses make to the local economy, by recognising their hard work and achievements.

The event will enhance the image of local businesses, inject pride in the town, and promote Burnley as a successful business location.

The council's chief executive, Steve Rumbelow, said: "The next 10 years will bring changes the borough has not seen since the industrial revo-lution: £700million of investment to bring new homes, new schools, new businesses, and lots more.

"By 2017 we want to be a key retail, service and education centre for a new Pennine Lancashire, with an entrepreneurial culture and a regional centre for advanced manufacturing.

"This event will acknowledge our local business successes, recognise the role of the business sector in Burnley's future economic success and cement the improving relationship between the private and public sectors."