We are now little more than a fortnight away from finding out who has won what in the 2011 Cheshire Business Awards.

The awards are now in their eighth year and 2011 has seen the biggest ever submission of entries.

The Cheshire Business Awards gala dinner takes place in the pavilion at Chester Racecourse on September 16.

And today we continue our in-depth look at the awards to be handed out on the night.

EA Technology is sponsoring the Large Business of the Year. This year’s shortlist is: Peckforton Castle; Citation plc; Click Consult Ltd.

A spokesman said: “EA Technology helps electricity companies keep the lights on around the world.

“We sell instruments, provide technical services and deliver consultancy propositions to companies that own electricity distribution networks and are seeking to improve reliability and integrate low carbon technologies.

“We also provide training for engineers and also help the companies communicate effectively with their customers.

“EA Technology has been recognised for its accelerated growth, support of the broader community and for its dynamic approach to innovation. This year we have won a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation in four years and are now in the top 100 exporting companies by growth in the UK.”

Last year the winner of the Large Business of the Year award was Flowcrete UK Ltd of Sandbach.

The company’s group-wide corporate mission is to be the world’s leading specialist flooring company by the continual improvement of its employees, products and services.

Flowcrete invests about £1.3m globally in research and development each year ensuring that it keeps up to date not only with current legislation, but also aiming to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint and to be at the forefront in its field with innovation.

Last year Flowcrete’s new state-of-the-art headquarters were opened in Cheshire by the Duke of Gloucester.

Cheshire East Council is sponsoring this year’s Community Award. The 2011 shortlist is: M&S Money; Ashton Hayes & Mouldsworth Community Shop; Big Society Works Ltd.

A spokesman said: “As the third largest unitary authority in the North West, the council has the region’s strongest economy with a GVA of £7.4bn and is home to a range of international brands including Bombardier, AstraZeneca and Bentley.

“We recognise we have a strong economic base and are committed to building on this to support existing businesses and attract new ones through a proactive approach to business engagement.

“We offer targeted support and response services to organisations of all sizes from national and international organisations – recent support has been given to the BBC and Waters Corporation – through to family-run firms and sole traders, through our Sustainable Towns initiatives.

“These smaller businesses are at the heart of our communities, making the towns and villages of Cheshire East such vibrant places to live. That is why we are particularly pleased to be supporting the Community Award.”

Last year the Cheshire East Council Community award was presented to Bank of America Europe Card Services (BAC ECS).

Operating under the MBNA brand, BAC ECS has always recognised the importance of giving back to the communities in which it operates. Its commitment to making a positive impact on the community is firmly rooted in the company’s core value of ‘doing the right thing’. While realising running a successful business can bring substantial benefits to a community, BAC ECS believes it has a responsibility to do more.

It runs a community volunteers programme, established in 2008, which has become the primary volunteer organisation for its staff who work together to enhance the lives of team-mates, customers and the community.

Last year the company’s staff recorded more than 16,500 volunteer hours supporting organisations such as Chester Zoo, Cheshire Police and the Petty Pool Trust.

Fundraising efforts amounted to almost £300,000.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner being held in the pavilion at Chester Racecourse on September 16 – the first time the awards night has been held at this top-class venue.

The gala dinner is the centrepiece of the Celebrate Cheshire showcase event, taking place from September 16-17 at Chester Racecourse.

The host for the evening will be TV news presenter and former Chester Chronicle journalist Lucy Meacock.

To book tickets for the gala dinner, telephone the events team on 01244 606472 or email enquiries@cheshirebusinessawards.co.uk. For more information, visit www.cheshirebusinessawards.co.uk.