THE head of an organisation which helps to bring businesses closer to the community has spoken of her “absolute delight” at becoming part of the 2011 Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards.

Community and Business Partners (CBP) are sponsoring the Social and Community category in the awards, thanks to a donation by Blackburn College who are also sponsors of the Training and Development section.

CBP chief executive Amanda Meachin said: “We have worked with Blackburn College for about 15 years and this extremely generous move of theirs is wonderful.

“The Lancashire Telegraph awards are a perfect platform for us, and a really good way to highlight how companies can connect with local people.”

The Partnership is a publicly-funded organisation which covers East Lancashire’s six boroughs and runs regular employer forums which bring together the private and public sectors.

This is the last week for entries in this year’s Lancashire Telegraph awards, whose other sponsors include United Utilities, BAE Systems, Cobham plc, Napthens and Hyndburn Enterprise Trust.

The awards celebrate enterprise at its best, and firms and individuals from all sectors are being urged to enter one, or more, of the ten categories for a chance to be recognised, and rewarded, for their successes during the past 12 months.

Entries will be accepted up until Monday, September 12.

The finalists will attend a glittering award ceremony at Ewood Park, Blackburn on Friday, November 11, hosted by BBC North West Tonight weather presenter Dianne Oxberry, with after-dinner speaker Lancashire consultant physician Dr Kevin Jones.