Maidenhead & Windsor

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is calling on local organisations and businesses to support the prestigious 2006 Community and Business Excellence Awards.

Now in their third highly successful year, the awards are designed to celebrate and reward achievers in both community and business, helping to raise their profile across the borough and stimulate new opportunities.

The awards are a joint initiative entirely funded by local Maidenhead organisations and supported by the council and The Learning Partnership. In the past, they have attracted sponsorship from a variety of public and private organisations, large and small, operating within the borough.

Since their inception in 2004 the Maidenhead awards have been steadily going from strength to strength, and this year's are set to be the best yet. Once again they will provide an exciting range of opportunities for organisations to get involved and be part of the continuing success story.

Partners involved in this event will demonstrate their support and commitment to the local community, with access to a wide-reaching promotional and PR campaign as well as joining the celebrations at a high profile awards ceremony at the newly-redeveloped Ascot Racecourse - one of the most prestigious venues in the UK.

The awards will be in 10 categories reflecting the vitality and innovation of business and community activities in the area. The final categories have not yet been decided but they may include: Contribution to the Community, Charity of the Year, Environmental Sustainability Achievement and Company of the Year.

Maidenhead Cllr Mary Rose Gliksten, leader of the Royal Borough, said: "We have one of the strongest and most successful communities in the South East. These awards are an opportunity for local organisations and businesses to work in partnership to celebrate the unique elements that make the Royal Borough such a vibrant place to live and work and also to create healthy links with the local community."

David Demolder, company secretary of Ascot Racecourse, one of the main event sponsors for 2006 and in previous years, said: "We are delighted to continue to support this successful event and to be aligned with the principles of the awards – the encouragement of creativity, recognition of excellence and the promotion of a better understanding of both individual and organisational achievements within the Royal Borough – which are so warmly embraced by its supporters."

A variety of sponsorship packages is available. Awards' organisers, Blink PR, have underlined the many advantages to organisations supporting the event.

Sarah Gill, of Blink PR, explained: "Everyone who has sponsored or entered the event in the past has commented on the excellent networking and business opportunities it opens up. High profile branding, frequent press coverage and a dedicated PR campaign all help educate an influential audience about each company's products and services. Sponsoring companies also benefit from wide exposure in the borough, and a closer relationship with the Royal Borough itself."

To find out more about the scheme and the many ways that local organisations and businesses can lend support, please call Sarah Gill at Blink PR on 0118 935 2606 or email info@blinkgroup.co.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead