BUSINESSES both established and fledgling along with the entrepreneurs of the future are being encouraged to get involved with the first Boston Enterprise Week.

Set to take place from November 16 to 20, the event is aimed at raising the profile of Boston, helping businesses in the area get the best out of themselves and each other as well as giving a boost to the next generation of company directors.

Highlight of the week will be a gala dinner at the Assembly Rooms on November 19 with Michelin star chef and former Boston College student Jason Atherton as guest speaker.

The dinner will also see a series of business awards handed out as Boston honours the cream of its business crop.

Five awards are up for grabs and entries are now invited for four of them - best new business, social enterprise, best use of innovation or technology and business of the year.

Entry forms for these can be obtained from the Target office in Wide Bargate or by contacting Ian Martin at Boston Borough Council.

The fifth and final category is for best customer service and nominees for this award will be put forward by Target readers.

To put forward a nomination email the Target's commercial manager Stacey Murphy at stacey.murphy@targetseries.co.uk with no more than 200 words on why your chosen business should win.

Among the other events lined up to take place during enterprise week is a business to business fair at the White Hart Hotel on November 17 when there will be various trade stands and question-and-answer sessions involving top professionals from the legal, financial, marketing and business worlds.

One of the Enterprise Week organisers, Martin Wright from NatWest in Boston, said: "I believe that Enterprise Week and the events we are running during the period provide a great opportunity for business to show its strength and diversity locally.

"I want to see the businesses we have in the area using the opportunities presented to show what Boston enterprise is all about."

Another organisation baking Enterprise Week is Boston College and principal Sue Daly, said: "There's a real likelihood that the sorts of events we are running in Enterprise Week will give young people in particular the sense that they can make a mark themselves in the world of business and that anything is possible, whatever their background.

"Aspiration and purpose, coupled with some self-belief and a few good ideas, can take you a long way.

"We aim to provide some motivation and excitement to kick-start people's ambitions."

Another aspect of Enterprise Week is a Young Enterprise Lion's Lair competition based on the popular BBC show Dragon's Den.

This will take place at Boston College on November 18 and will see Young Enterprise companies from local schools do battle to impress the judging panel.

Young Enterprise development manager Wendy Sheehan said: "Young Enterprise in Boston and South Holland is pleased to work with the Boston Area Regeneration Company to promote entrepreneurship amongst young people in this area.

"The Young Enterprise version of the Lion's Lair competition is a great introduction to business planning and presenting the company positively and I'm really looking forward to seeing the students ideas."