MANAGING director Hilary Cookson landed a nice surprise when she returned home from holiday.

Hilary was abroad when the latest quarterly winners of the 1999 Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards were presented with their prizes.

But she came back to find out she had won the personal achievement award for her role at the family ladieswear business Maureen Cookson.

The company also won the Small Business of the Quarter Award.

Hilary is the daughter of founder Maureen and she joined the business from the John Lewis Partnership 18 years ago.

Today the business, which employs 52 people, attracts customers from across the North West.

Entries are now being invited for the Autumn quarter of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards.

The awards build on the success of previous years but this year we have introduced a quarterly award scheme in addition to the annual presentation which has more than £3,000 of prizes up for grabs.

The competition aims to recognise and reward flair, enterprise and business achievements as well as initiatives to improve training and individual development for both employees and employers.

The awards will also spotlight individual people who make a real difference to the success of their business.

The first quarter's awards saw Burnley based firms Ensign Developments and Lanway CBS scoop the top prizes and the winners of the second quarter were announced on June 28. With mainstream support coming from ELTEC, Business Link, Ultraframe and Macdonald Hotels, the competition is organised by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in conjunction with Cartmell Public Relations.

There are four categories and entries can be submitted for any number of these. They are:

Company of the Quarter

Small Business of the Quarter

Personal Achievement Award (focusing on training and staff development for employees or employers)

Judges' Special Award (each quarter this will be themed to spotlight key areas of the commercial world such as use of technology, export achievement and marketing).

The closing date for entries for the third quarter awards is August 10.

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