Bedfordshire's two most prestigious further education colleges have given their enthusiastic backing to Rising Stars 2008. Luton's top-performing Barnfield College is keenly sponsoring the Shining Star Award for top individuals while the county town's Bedford College is also extremely positive about its backing of the Business Training Award.

With 24,000 students and 1,000 staff, Barnfield was rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted inspectors in June 2007. This year, its excellent exam results left the educational establishment gasping.

Barnfield College has been an enthusiastic supporter of Premier Newspapers' business excellence awards for the past several years as part of its "relentless pursuit of excellence and achievement". Premier Newspapers publishes the Luton News, Dunstable Gazette, Herald&Post and a host of other titles and websites across Bedfordshire.

A spokesman for Barnfield College said: "As a main plank of our responsibility as Britain's first Beacon college, we work hard on promoting a "can do" attitude and spreading the pursuit of excellence. The business excellence awards are a perfect fit, promoting excellence on both an individual and company level."

Barnfield sponsors the Shining Star Award which recognises individuals who have been in their role for 12 months or less and who are making a real difference in their company or organisation.

The spokesman added: 'We look for someone who stands out in their performance, demonstrates enterprise and initiative and a drive for self-improvement that has had a positive impact in their workplace.

'In these challenging economic times, the business excellence awards put companies at the forefront of the public agenda, mark them as pursuers of excellence and provide a steady stream of publicity.'

Bedford College is committed to helping businesses in Bedfordshire succeed through the development of their most valuable 'product' – their people.

In its support of the Business Training Award, Bedford College is helping put the spotlight on companies which are using training and development to keep staff at the top of their game.

The college's award-winning sales and marketing director, Sarah Wagstaff, has to make sure the college recruits thousands of new clients – students – year on year. She knows the value of promotion: 'Investing in training is investing in the product or service you deliver to your client – so tell them about it! Entering this sort of competition is marketing opportunity for your business - so shout about it!

'In the longer term entering this category of competition has internal and external communications benefits. It not only recognises the value which you place on your staff, but also on your clients – the end result of training is better service for clients and customers.'

Other award sponsors are Axis Electronics (Small/Medium Business Of The Year); Keens Shay Keens (Employee Of The Year); Beds County Council (Green Business); University of Bedfordshire (Innovation); LSC (Champions of Learning); Beds Borough Council (www. business of the year); Chamber of Commerce (Company Of The Year) and Premier Newspapers (Customer Care Excellence).

It's really easy to nominate for the awards. Just click here to be taken to the Rising Stars link on our home page. Making a nomination is easy but don't delay, because the closing date for nominations is Friday, October 10.