Awards may grow after night sells out

So popular is the awards evening for 10th The Hunts Post Huntingdonshire Business Awards in November that the event is already over-subscribed a month before it happens. The 12 awards, on November 2 at the Burgess Hall, St Ives, will be compered by Look E

So popular is the awards evening for 10th The Hunts Post Huntingdonshire Business Awards in November that the event is already over-subscribed a month before it happens.

The 12 awards, on November 2 at the Burgess Hall, St Ives, will be compered by Look East presenter Stewart White, who has been a regular at the black-tie event for several years. But some local business people who had applied for the 320 available places will be disappointed because there have already been applications for many more seats than that.

"It's very encouraging that the event is so popular, and it's a shame that we are having to turn people away, even at this early stage," said Paul Richardson, publisher of The Hunts Post and chairman of the awards.

"We have been looking at ways to increase capacity, but we will not compromise safety or our guests' comfort on what promises to be a fabulous night.

"What this demonstrates very clearly is that there is an appetite for celebrating business success in Huntingdonshire in a way that combines a good night out with the opportunity for networking," Mr Richardson added.

"It underlines what we have been thinking for some time - that we need to move on from simply an annual competition to find and celebrate the best in local business. Together with business leaders, we are looking at ways of celebrating success all year round and providing opportunities for more companies to be involved.

"The Hunts Post's weekly business page - already unique among Hunts newspapers - does this to some extent, but it inevitably lacks the social element."

The awards judges, under the chairmanship of John Bridge, chief executive of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Chambers of Commerce, are evaluating the claims of short-listed companies and individuals to join Stewart White on the podium on November 2.

Each of the category-winning companies will be considered for the overall award, The Huns Post Huntingdonshire Business of the Year 2007.

The awards are supported by Huntingdonshire District Council. Sponsors include the Federation of Small Businesses, surveyors DH Barford and Company, solicitors, Leeds Day, social landlord The Luminus Group, Greater Cambridge Partnership, printers Piggott Black Bear, business park developers Artisan Developments (UK) Limited, HSBC Bank, Huntingdonshire Regional College, this newspaper's parent Archant Herts and Cambs and packaging manufacturer Sealed Air.

The overall award is sponsored by chartered accountants Whitmarsh Sterland for the 10th successive year.