IF YOU want to be at this year’s Liverpool Daily Post Regional Business Awards, you need to act quickly.

Around 500 guests are expected to attend the glittering, black tie awards dinner, which will take place at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral next month.

Television celebrity John Sergeant will be hosting the event on behalf of the Liverpool Daily Post, a title he used to work for as a young reporter.

Mr Sergeant has previously worked as a politics reporter for the BBC and ITN, and famously withdrew from the 2008 Strictly Come Dancing after a storm of protests about his success in the competition.

The winners of nine award categories will be unveiled on the night, which takes place on Thursday, June 23.

Among the categories is the DLA Piper Business Person on the Year award. This is awarded to an individual who has made a major contribution to his or her business and the reputation of the region as a whole. Past winners of this prize include Steve O’Connor, of Stobart, and Sir Michael Bibby, of Bibby Line Group.

Another award, known as the O2 Judges’ Award, is made to a business seen by the judges as demonstrating an extra spark of entrepreneurial spirit during the year. No shortlist is drawn up for either of these two categories.

A shortlist for five of the categories was published last week and is available on our website, www.ldpbusiness.co.uk. The shortlist for the remaining categories will be published next week.

Daily Post editor Mark Thomas said: “This is a prestigious, not-to- be-missed occasion that offers a fabulous networking opportunity and great entertainment.”

TO BOOK places at this year’s event, please call 0151 472 2422. Single places cost £95 plus VAT. A table of ten is £950 plus VAT.