BUSINESSES in the borough crammed into Vicarage Field on Thursday to learn about this year s prestigious industry awards. The 2009 Barking and Dagenham Business Awards were launched at a buffet lunch at Barking s Vicarage Field Shopping Centre as the B&D

BUSINESSES in the borough crammed into Vicarage Field on Thursday to learn about this year's prestigious industry awards.

The 2009 Barking and Dagenham Business Awards were launched at a buffet lunch at Barking's Vicarage Field Shopping Centre as the B&D Enterprise built on the successful event of last year.

With an extra two categories to enter, the awards have gained an impressive reputation in the business community.

Their importance was emphasised by one of last year's winners.

Ian Wall of the Osborne Partnership was in no doubt of the value of his win for Innovation last year.

He said: "Winning the award last year was the best thing that could have happened to us. Our funding was severely cut and we lost our main contract, but managed to rise above it and show we were still in the market place.

"It was recognition and quite frankly I wanted to get the biggest megaphone and shout it from the roof."

The 2009 competition now has categories for; Business of the Year; Innovation, Community Involvement; Marketing Excellence; Retailer of the Year; Training and Development; Best New Business; Growth Business of the Year; Business Person of the Year and Sole Trader/Micro-business including E-business.

Entries to these awards will also be eligible to enter the London wide Thames Gateway Business Awards sponsored by Archant London, publishers of the Post.

Another winner of last year, Jeremy West, head of one of the oldest businesses in the borough, West & Coe, said how vital the awards were to the area.

"It is a difficult time for everyone, but the value is in showing just how rich we are in competitive and innovative business and that we are all still in there fighting."

First to hand in his entry, was Simon Green, Manager of Vicarage Field Centre.

"It is a difficult time for us all, but it makes you look harder and longer at your business in an attempt to come up with new ideas.

"We have introduced the VIX scheme in the centre where new businesses can walk in and get a retail outlet for a single fee.

"It effectively does away with all the rigmarole of setting up, and once established, we have another valuable asset under our roof."

The Post is once again a media partner and over the coming weeks will be highlighting businesses who have entered.

Closing date for entries is Friday May 1st with the application form available by calling 0208 227 3319, or on-line via the link on the Barking and Dagenham Post website www.bdpost.co.uk