APPLICATIONS are being invited for the 2004 Medway Small Business Awards, which this year have cash prizes totalling £5,000.

Many award schemes have come and gone over the years but these prestigious accolades have grown stronger by the year. Twenty years after their creation, they are stronger than ever, with more sponsors than ever before.

Born in the depths of depression following the closure of the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham, they have recognised the vital contribution made to the revival of the Medway Towns since 1984. Medway now has some 8,000 small businesses, a testament to the determination of many people, including a number of former dockyard workers.

Each year, a dozen or so companies have been shortlisted to appear in the final out of a typical entry of around 50 enterprises.

The statistics are impressive, with around 1,000 businesses entering the contest over the past 20 years, and more than 200 attending finals.

Joy and sometimes disappointment have combined over the years to make the presentation galas memorable and emotional occasions.

But for the winners, it can be - as one triumphant managing director said - like scoring the winning goal at the Cup Final, a great feeling.

Winners have included a medical equipment firm, a sign maker, a direct marketing company, a mailing house, a school uniform supplier, an IT specialist, a fountain maker, security firms and humidification experts - you name it, and someone in that sector has probably won.

They have all agreed that it was well worth entering. These are the friendly awards with no complicated business plans or reports to file as a condition of entry.

And almost all those 1,000 entrants have even had an article about them published in their local newspaper, exposure that would cost a lot of money in paid advertising terms.

Colin Outram, co-founder of Gillingham-based Humi-Tech Services - the 2002 winner - said: "This competition has really given us the inspiration to push ourselves further to improve our business."

This year's sponsors are: Medway Council, Medway Messenger, Lloyds TSB, North Kent Chamber of Commerce, Reeves & Neylan, Business Link, Kent Institute of Art and Design, University of Kent at Medway.

To enter, just complete the form in the Medway Messenger or alternatively, entrants can request and submit entry forms via an e-mail address, MSBAwards@kent.ac.uk