THE Black Country Chamber of Commerce is on the hunt for its ‘Business of the Year’ 2015 - and is hoping to bring in more entries than ever.

Companies in the Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen areas are among those being urged to put their names forward for the awards, which will be announced and presented at a dinner at Wolverhampton Racecourse on November 19.

Last year's ‘Business of the Award’ overall winner, Oldbury-based Voestalpine Metsec plc, is sponsoring the 2015 effort.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce spokesman Lisa Bird said: "This year we want to make the celebrations bigger and better, with more businesses applying and in attendance.

"Our aim is to double the size of the Black Country economy by 2023, with the success and continued growth of the local business community being an integral facet in helping us to achieve this aim."

Neil Richardson, managing director of Voestalpine Metsec, which makes cold rolled steel sections, said: “It is fantastic for us to support an event that celebrates the great businesses we have in the Black Country.

“We are proud to have won the Business of the Year award in 2014, as it acknowledged all the hard work the team at Voestalpine Metsec plc put in to make our business the success that it is.

"I would like to encourage chamber members to apply for an award this year and attend the excellent awards dinner in November.” Last year's competition attracted just over 30 entries.

The 2014 winners in various categories also included Cradley Heath law firm George Green, Dudley and Kingswinford-based Ultra Furniture Ltd, Sandwell Women's Aid and DPD, the logistics company, from Oldbury.

This year's categories include ‘Community Champion’, for a company that has boosted the local economy by supporting the local community, ‘Customer Service’, ‘Innovation’, ‘International Trade’, ‘Manufacturer of the Year’, ‘Services Firm of the Year’, ‘Social Enterprise or Charity of the Year’, and ‘Business of the Year’ for both small and large companies.

The awards are open to all members of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and entries must be in by 3pm on September 9.

Judging will be in October, when the finalists will be announced.

Details on how to enter are available at www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/bcc-events/black-country-chamber-of-commerce-awards-2015, by emailing awards@blackcountrychamber.co.uk or calling 0330 024 0820.