With the deadline now extended to 16 May, there is still time to get your entries in for this year’s Baking Industry Awards.

Entry forms are available from Stephanie Smallwood, tel: 01293 610433 or e-mail: stephanie.smallwood@william-reed.co.uk.

There are 11 categories, championing the achievements of all aspects of the industry, with awards for training, manufacture, craft bakery, customer focus, the best in-store bakery and a newcomer this year - plant product of the year. Entrants for the Baker of the Year award must have hands-on baking experience. (See the March 14 issue of British Baker for full details of the awards and the sponsoring organisations.)

The 2007 awards were a great success, with more than 900 people from across the industry, celebrating the achievements of the award winners and all those who had entered.

Remember that all finalists attend free and can bring a partner to the awards at the Grosvenor House hotel in Mayfair on Monday, 15 September.

l Join the British Baker team as we launch our bigger and brighter format at this year’s Baking Industry Exhibition (BIE). We will be celebrating our relaunch on 7 April at 3pm on stand G28B. This year’s exhibition, held at Birmingham’s NEC from 6 to 9 April, has many new features including artisan masterclasses and a demonstration theatre. For details, see [http://www.bakingindustryexhibition.co.uk]