Director Vicki Appleyard will hope her Langtoft firm will gain recognition from the business awards for its success in the first year of trading and to use this recognition to build the business over the next year.

Safe-T-Solutions is a health and safety training company offering a wide range of courses, from industrial counterbalance and reach truck training through to construction equipment training and first aid courses.

It prides itself on exceeding customer expectations regarding the level of service they receive.

"Our training centre, based just outside of Peterborough, is now open offering forklift training with the aim of helping people to retrain for employment," said Vicki.

"Our inspiration to enter the awards came from the belief that we have made an impact on the local economy through employment of instructors and by giving people skills with which to seek employment."

For Green Passion Creative, the company is now in a position to demonstrate its achievements required for the Environmental Achievement category.

Owner Claire Simsek said: "Should we be short-listed, the opportunity to network among prestigious city businesses at the event would be valuable and if we go on to win, it would independently confirm the value of all our hard work in building the business in a sustainable manner.

"We also received support via a nomination from Clare Watters, Business Envestor manager, who said: 'I nominated Green Passion Creative as they are the 'greenest of the green'."

As you can see from the name, the whole business philosophy is based around being 'green/sustainable/eco.' All their jobs and activities are eco-friendly right through to operating a green supply chain, plus Claire Simsek has been going out giving presentations about how to make the environment core to your business and marketing strategy, as a support and inspiration to other businesses.

Why not follow the lead of Vicki and Claire and enter the business awards?

But the deadline for entries is next week – to be exact.

It's not too late for businesses and members of the public to nominate firms you think should contend in the event's various award categories.

Nominations can be made by downloading a relevant form before Friday, September 12 .