THE popular Bolton and Bury Business Awards have a new sponsor — and a new category!

Groundwork Bury and Bolton are bringing their expertise and experience to the glittering annual event by creating and sponsoring the Environmental Best Practice Award.

Groundwork Bury and Bolton, based in Blackburn Street, Radcliffe, see their involvement in the business awards as a fresh challenge and the beginning of a new era. For the past 11 years Groundwork and the previous Bury Business Environment Association had organised their own annual awards.

The event will not go ahead this year although the Groundwork board will consider whether it will be revived in 2011.

Instead, their impetus will be focused on their involvement in the Bolton and Bury Business Awards, organised by The Bolton News and Bury Times Group.

The fifth successive event will take place at the De Vere Whites Hotel, Bolton, on Thursday, June 10. Groundwork executive director, Tony Taylor said: “Our board was very keen to support good environmental practice by looking at an already established event for us to either promote or get directly involved in. We chose the Bolton and Bury Business Awards as they are high profile and cover the areas which we cover.”

Thanks to Groundwork Bury and Bolton getting on board, this year’s awards will now feature 11 categories. Log on to boltonandburybusinessawards.co.uk/ and choose your category. Closing date is April 16.