PAST winners of the Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards today praised the ceremony for the important recognition it gives to local firms.

Last year saw dozens of entrants apply for each category, and it was a tough job for the judges to whittle the numbers down to just three finalists in each section.

This year the indications are that even more entrants will be competing for the top awards, with a win giving them vital recognition in the East Lanc-ashire business community.

But according to previous lucky winners, the awards can also help boost morale, increase applications for apprentice positions, and bring revenue to the whole area.

The Whitehall Hotel, Ross Street, Darwen, was picked by judges to be the Small Business of the Year in the 2005 awards.

Neil Bullows, owner of the hotel, said: "It was nice to be recognised by our peers for how far we have brought the business and we were all ecstatic.

"It was a massive morale boost for the team and it was a catalyst to what has been a very successful 12 months."

According to Mr Bullows, the award was followed soon after by other awards, including Small Hotel of the Year, in the Business Excellence Awards, which saw him visit London for a glittering ceremony.

But he said: "It was down to the initial recognition by the East Lancashire award.

The evening was so very well organised and considering we went to London and stayed at the Hilton on Park Lane it didn't touch the feeling of euphoria we felt in September in Lancashire."

And 2005 saw Accrington construction firm Craig Hambling Ltd sccop the Training Excellence award.

Craig Hambling, managing director, said: "The awards certainly raised our profile with clients, and that can only be a good thing.

"They see the effort that we put in with our staff training and that reflects positively on our company's image.

"We have also seen an increase in both the number and quality of applicants for our apprenticeship programme for next year.

"We attribute this to the positive public relations that was generated locally when we won the award.

"We see our success in 2005 as the culmination of many years' hard work and a just reward for our efforts thus far.

"This is merely the beginning for us at Craig Hambling Ltd and we look forward to a continued improvement in both our apprenticeship programme and our business successes as a whole.

"We have found the winning of this award has increased the opportunities for us to become involved in local training and development initiatives.

"For example, we are involved in a programme of school visits, fronted by Elevate East Lancashire, the Local Housing Renewal Pathfinder, aimed at encouraging more youngsters to join the construction industry.

"We find such initiatives hugely rewarding."