Businesses now have longer to complete their entries to be in the running for the prestigious awards. Nominations are open to all businesses in the Borough, including small and micro businesses.

It's free to make a nomination and by putting your business forward it can help you stand out from the competition, increase trade, boost staff morale and lead to positive publicity. The business awards also offer the opportunity to reflect on your successes and celebrate your achievement.

Two categories - Independent Retailer and Food and Hospitality - will be decided via a public vote, enabling residents to get involved in the process and have a direct say in who wins.

Awards ceremony

Nick Hewer, Countdown presenter and Lord Alan Sugar's former right hand man, will host the awards ceremony on Friday 19 January at the InterContinental London - The O2.

Discounted tickets are on sale for £35 per person thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, who have funded the whole awards ceremony. £5 from the sale of each ticket will be divided equally between the Mayor's charities which are The Garrison Church of St George and Wide Horizons. This donation also buys you a raffle ticket which will be drawn by the Mayor at the awards ceremony.

Ticket holders will enjoy a champagne reception, sponsored by J.B. Riney, followed by lunch and the ceremony which will include entertainment by The Millennium Performing Arts College.

All of the awards have been sponsored by and will be presented by businesses who operate in and around the borough. The Council is particularly grateful to the headline sponsor, housing-led regeneration company Lovell.

'Make sure you get your entry in'

Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Councillor Denise Hyland, said: "This is the first year we've organised a business awards so we've decided to extend the nominations deadline to make sure we get the message out far and wide and encourage all businesses to consider nominating themselves.

"No matter what your business is, there's a category to suit you - and if you're a resident who knows a business which deserves to win an award, why not encourage them to enter?

"The Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards are a celebration of our borough's best businesses so if you think you're among them, make sure you get your entry in. As it's free to make a nomination, there's absolutely nothing to lose yet there are plenty of benefits to gain."