Businesses from around Gwent who have not yet entered the South Wales Business Awards have until the end of Friday this week.

We decided to extend the deadline until July 27 to give all our fantastic local businesses the chance of being part of what it expected to become one the highlights of the Gwent business calendar.

is fast approaching.

There 15 categories, 14 of which businesses can enter, in the inaugural awards, which are being staged in partnership with Newport Now Business Improvement District.

The 15th category, Business of the Year sponsored by Newport Now, will be decided by the judging panel, which will include South Wales Argus business editor Jo Barnes.

The other categories are: Innovative Business of the Year, sponsored by Western Power Distribution; Entrepreneur of the Year (35+), sponsored by Johnsey Estates; Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Icon Creative Design; Lifetime Achievement, sponsored by Newport City Council; Family Business of the Year, sponsored by MHA Broomfield Alexander; Large Business of the Year, sponsored by Thomas Carroll Group; Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Kymin; Start Up Business of the Year, sponsored by St Jospeh's Hospital; Contribution to the Community, sponsored by Monmouthshire Business Society; Customer Service Award, sponsored jointly by Friars Walk and The Kingsway Centre; Best BID Independent of the Year, sponsored by Newport Now; Best BID National of the Year, sponsored by Newport Now; Environmental Business of the Year and Training and Development Business of the Year.

The awards are easy to enter - just follow the link at the bottom of this story to enter your business and be in with a chance of picking up one of the prestigious prizes.

South Wales Argus MD Hussain Bayoomi has thanked all the sponsors for backing the awards and urged businesses from across Gwent enter the awareds before the deadline on July 20.

The business awards will be presented at an event at the Newport Centre on September 27, 2018.

To enter go to www.southwalesargus.co.uk/awards/business2018/.

For more details on sponsorship packages or to buy tickets to the event contact Matt Berry on 01633 777043 or Samantha Taylor on 01633 777147.