With close of entries today (Friday), HSBC Bank is making a last call to all new companies to enter this year's Start-Up Stars Awards - an annual search for the UK's most promising start-up businesses and the inspirational entrepreneurs behind them. The awards, backed by the government and supported by Sky News and the Daily Express, welcome any fledging firms less than three years old which can prove they have the determination, dedication, creativity and business acumen for success. The Start-Up Stars Awards culminates with a glittering black-tie event at London's Dorchester Hotel on October 29, where the UK's top new businesses will hope to be crowned 'Start-Up Star 2008' and to walk away with a cheque for £50,000, courtesy of HSBC. A cheque for £5,000 will also be presented to the business scooping the Green Award and demonstrating they are putting the environment at the top of their business agenda. As official supporter of the Awards, Google will be offering £5,000 of AdWords and a visit to their London office as a prize to both the National Winner and the Green Award Winner. Each of the runners-up will receive £2,500 of AdWords. The regional heats, which generate 60 regional winners, seek entries from all over the UK. A panel of business experts will then select the top 10 new businesses to fly the flag for their region in the national finals. Head of business banking for HSBC, Huw Morgan, added: "Last year HSBC helped more than 130,000 new businesses get started. That's one every four minutes, so we understand what it takes to set up a new venture and go it alone. "There is no such thing as too new or too small in these awards, as long as the entrepreneurs can demonstrate potential for greatness." Entry forms are available online at: http://www.startupstars.hsbc.co.uk">www.startupstars.hsbc.co.uk, or from HSBC branches. For further enquiries, please contact the Start-Up Stars office on 0800 085 3411. Closing date for entries is today (Friday). So don't delay.
