LAYLA BENNET is no bird-brain and young entrepreneurs in Powys could soon be following in her footsteps.

The falconry businesswoman is a previous winner in the Powys Business Awards and hasn't looked back  – going on to secure investment on Dragon's Den.

There is just one week left for young businesspeople under the age of  30 to enter the Young Entrepreneur category in this year's Powys awards contest.

Last-minute entrants are also being invited for the Training and Development category.

The third annual awards contest is a chance for businesses to get local and regional recognition.

For Layla it has meant a huge leap in her business profile. And other young businesspeople could follow suit.

Last year's business awards were a huge success, celebrated in a glittering dinner and awards presentation attended by over 200 guests.

This year's awards were launched at a breakfast event on 4 May,hosted by the joint organisers of the awards, Powys County Council. The other organisers are MWMG and the Cambrian News.

Nomination forms are now available for the 2011 Powys Business Awards, which will again culminate in a black-tie dinner, this year being held in Newtown at Theatr Hafren on 27th September.

You can download an entry form or enter on-line by going to www.powysbusinessawards.co.uk. But hurry, as there is just one week to go before nominations close.

A spokesperson for the organisers said: “These awards are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to raise their profile. Businesses are independently judged on their excellent standards.

“The awards structure offers a public forum where recipients can gather in the presence of other business leaders and their peers to celebrate their success, at the awards dinner and presentation.

“Also, award recipients enjoy local publicity as the awards are covered by local and regional newspapers, and by broadcasters, and everyone who reaches the finals also has the added bonus of having a free, professionally-made short film made about their business which can be added to their website or otherwise used in their publicity.”

The categories for the 2011 Powys Business Awards are:

Business of the Year sponsored by Powys County Council;

Judges' Award, sponsored by Themes Restaurant,

Small Business Award sponsored by Turner Peachey, Chartered Accountants;

Young Entrepreneur Award sponsored by Cambrian News and Brecon and

Radnor Express;

Training & Development Award sponsored by Coleg Powys;

Start Up Business Award sponsored by County Times;

Leadership Award sponsored by Leadership & Management Wales (LMW)

Growth Award, sponsored by Finance Wales;

Tourism Award sponsored by Tourism Partnership Mid Wales which is open to businesses in Powys, Ceredigion & Meirionnydd.

Manufacturing Award sponsored by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group;

Social Enterprise/Charity Award sponsored by Mid-Wales Housing

Association Ltd.