A RECORD number of Glasgow businesses are in the running for a top award.

Firms and companies from across the city have been eager to showcase their accomplishments for this year's Glasgow Business Awards.

The news comes as large numbers of votes continue to arrive for the six contenders in the Evening Times-sponsored category of Glasgow's Favourite Business.

The 2014 business awards ceremony, which is sponsored by Bank of Scotland, takes place in the Hilton Glasgow Hotel on Thursday, October 2.

Local firms have been quick in their attempts to catch the judges' attention, with applications exceeding last year's record entry numbers by a third.

Another significant part of the awards is that sponsorship and opportunities have been snapped up by an impressive range of businesses including Scottish Water, ScotRail and ScottishPower, as well as Glasgow School for Business and Society at Glasgow Caledonian University.

A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Last week we announced this year's shortlist of nominees for the award for Glasgow's Favourite Business.

The King's Theatre Glasgow, Gillian Kyle, The Business Incentives Group Limited, Walkbusters, Glasgow Airport and Bar 91 are all competing for the title.

Former winners of this prestigious title have included Glasgow Taxis Ltd, Rhythm Base, Slater Menswear, Barrhead Travel and most recently saving and loans company, Glasgow Credit Union.

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "Glasgow's business community has performed astoundingly over the last 12 months.

"The high volume of entries received this year illustrates this, with a great number of impressive success stories to highlight.

"The prompt take-up of our sponsorship opportunities by such a strong group of businesses is very encouraging and demonstrates the well-achieved status of the awards, recognised very highly by businesses across the UK."

He added: "The award ceremony is always an enjoyable occasion, usually selling out far in advance by returning guests who regard it as one of the most gratifying events of the year.

"With the judging process now under way and some great talent already shining through, we're eagerly awaiting this year's awards."

Graham Blair, SME Area Director at Bank of Scotland, the awards' main sponsor, said: "Glasgow is well known for the wealth of talent and entrepreneurial spirit it hosts.

"The Glasgow Business Awards afford us the opportunity to celebrate the city and the west of Scotland's business success and it is wonderful to see so many enterprises and organisations eager to be involved.

"The shortlist comprises an impressive range of the businesses and the judges have an unenviable task ahead of them. As ever, the awards are set to be a fantastic night for all involved and Bank of Scotland is very proud to be a part of it."

The Glasgow Business Award Categories for 2014 are:

n Bank of Scotland Award for Most Outstanding Business, sponsored by Bank of Scotland

n Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Award for Lifetime Achievement, sponsored by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

n Evening Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business, sponsored by Evening Times

n Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Business (1-10 employees), sponsored by Glasgow City Council

n Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Business (11-50 employees), sponsored by Glasgow City Council

n Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Business (51 employees or over), sponsored by Glasgow School for Business and Society, Glasgow Caledonian University

n Glasgow Business Award for Creative Marketing, sponsored by ScotRail

n Glasgow Business Award for Sustainable Development, sponsored by Scottish Water

n Glasgow Business Award for Green Champion, sponsored by ScottishPower

n Glasgow Business Award for Excellence in Skills and Learning, sponsored bySaBRE

n Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Social Enterprise, sponsored by The Wise Group

n Glasgow Business Award for Excellence in Communications, sponsored by Connect

n Glasgow Business Award for Excellence in Customer Service (sponsorship opportunity)

n Glasgow Business Award for Family Business of the Year - sponsorship opportunity available

n Glasgow Business Award for Innovation in Business - sponsorship opportunity available

n Glasgow Business Award for Young Business Person of the Year (sponsorship opportunity)

To purchase your tickets for this prestigious event, contact the Glasgow Business Awards 2014 helpline on 0141 275 4842 or email: trobertson@strategem.co.uk