THE winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year title at The Herald Business Awards will have displayed vision and diligence in the tradition of chewing gum pioneer William Wrigley Junior, the company he founded says.

Chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley is sponsoring the award, which will go to an individual who has been instrumental in the success of a business.

Judges will take into consideration the overall performance of the business over the last three years, what the entrepreneur believes makes them different, and their vision for the future of the business.

Siân O'Keefe, Wrigley's senior manager for corporate affairs in the UK and Republic of Ireland, said: "At Wrigley we believe hard work deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

"Our sponsorship of the Entrepreneur award at The Herald Business Awards is the ideal opportunity to do this and champion some of the exciting developments happening in Plymouth.

"The winner of this award will be chosen as an outstanding individual who has been instrumental in the success of a business over the past year.

"The Wrigley Company was founded by its own entrepreneur, William Wrigley Junior, who, aged 29, went to Chicago with just 32 USdollars in his pocket and began marketing a new product called chewing gum under his own name.

"It was an instant success and it wasn't long before the Wrigley Company arrived in the UK and began selling Spearmint gum.

"The rest, as they say, is history and the winner of this award will have shown similar vision for the future of their business. However, these awards go beyond recognising just one outstanding individual," she added.

"They are about supporting the local economy and community, and enabling Plymouth to showcase the effort, innovation, and enterprise that businesses, large and small, are driving. As a local company, Wrigley is proud to be based in the SouthWest and to be an integral part of this movement."

The Herald's Business Awards will be presented at a black-tie ceremony at Plymouth's Holiday Inn on April 12.

TV presenter Esther Rantzen will compere the ceremony, which will honour the cream of Plymouth businesses.

Nominations are being sought now for the awards, which come together under the Positively Plymouth city branding and are presented in association with Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. The award for Entrepreneur is one of 13 categories.

The other awards will be given for Best Business, Family Business, Innovator, Small Business, Social Enterprise, Green Business, Manufacturing Business, Young Business Person, Corporate Social Responsibility, Spirit of Enterprise, Sustainability and Lifetime Achievement.

In addition to Wrigley, firms and organisations sponsoring individual awards include VH Graddon and Sons, Tamar Science Park, First Great Western, City College Plymouth, Plymouth University, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Better Together, Outset Plymouth/YTKO, MVV Environment Devonport, South West Water and Viridor.

Last year, Estover manufacturer Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd was named Business of the Year, and Keith White, managing director of jewellers Michael Spiers, won the Lifetime Achievement award.

Nominations for this year's awards close on Saturday, February 25, and can be made on-line at: www.theheraldbusiness awards.co.uk