Back with a bang, the , in association with , has a remarkable shortlist of local businesses who deserve to be recognised for their hard work and dedication to our region.

Success has streamed through every sector of the business industry despite the difficulties of the past year, so there's only one thing we need to do: dedicate an evening of complete celebration to them.

Live at the Maher Centre on Thursday, September 16, the glittering black-tie awards ceremony will get underway. With so many success stories to be told and 16 gleaming awards to be handed out, it is set to be a special night.

Plus, after a year of being stuck behind a screen in our homes, it will be a relief to finally get out and get dressed up, catch up and network face-to-face, and most notably enjoy some normality again.

If you want to be there at the exciting event, contact Michelle Roberts at mroberts@championsukplc.com for tickets.

There are five headline sponsors this year: , , , and . For more information, take a look at the.

Ever aware of the struggles of the past year and the strain it has had on the industry, the event this year is going to be more special than ever as we all reunite after too long.

There's even a new award that has been created to champion those in industries most affected by the pandemic: the .

It will be inspiring to see how resilient the hospitality industry was. PPL PRS is sponsoring the award and head of commercial, Greg Aiello said that they are "looking forward to hearing the stories of adopting new technologies, businesses' commitment to helping customers feel safe, and providing a great environment for them to enjoy."

Hit hard by restrictions and lockdowns, finalists Bobli, Ben's Kitchen, Winstanley House and Navitas showed their ingenuity and creativity to ensure that they could continue to serve our region. They will be waiting in anticipation on September 16 to find out which one of them will take home the new coveted title.

If you want to discover the success stories behind the special shortlist and rub shoulders with Leicestershire's business elite, or even just have a night of celebration with your team surrounded by inspiring ambition and triumphs, why not join us for this year's exciting live event?

Check out the full list of finalists .

The full list of categories is:

SME Business of the Year Sponsored by

Employer of the Year Sponsored by

Business Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by

Excellence in Science & Technology Sponsored by

Excellence in Manufacturing Award Sponsored by

Contribution to the Community Award Sponsored by

Not-for-Profit-Organisation Award Sponsored by

Excellence in Innovation Award Sponsored by

Family Business of the Year Sponsored by

Customer Service Excellence Award Sponsored by

Apprentice Employer of the Year Sponsored by

Excellence in Training & Development Sponsored by

International Trade & Export Sponsored by

Small Business Growth & Development Award Sponsored by

Hospitality Innovation Award Sponsored by

Company of the Year Sponsored by

  • The , in association with, will take place on Thursday, September 16 at Maher Centre. For tickets, please contact Michelle Roberts, mroberts@championsukplc.com.
  • Find out more information on the official website: .