Pictured above: Lord Bhattacharyya and Harj Sandher

The search has begun for the latest stars of Midlands business.

The 2012 Midlands Business Awards have formally been launched, with nine categories up for grabs, along with a lifetime achievement nominee to follow in the footsteps of the prominent academic Lord Bhattacharyya. 

This year saw a record number of entries. The company behind the awards, which are now entering their sixth year, UK Special Events, is confident that this upward trend will continue into 2012. 

MD Harj Sandher said: "The awards have blossomed to encompass the whole of the Midlands region. As the number of entrants has grown, so too have the standard and quality of their submissions.

"At a time when the doomsayers have us on our knees, the picture we see is very different. This whole area, east and west, has a proud history of innovation and it continues to this day. We don't know who will enter but look forward to being surprised again."

Would-be winners have until August 31 to enter the contest and can do so via www.midlandsbusinessawards.com. The independent panel of judges will sift the entries and announce the shortlist of five entrants for each category in October.

The awards will be unveiled at a gala dinner being held on Friday 3 February 2012.