A LONG-STANDING Bradford company hopes to go one better and win one of the T&A Bradford Means Business Awards this year.

Christeyns UK, a manufacturer of chemicals for the commercial laundry, construction and on premise laundry markets, has again entered the Manufacturer of the Year category at the awards, after missing out on the prize in 2015.

This year's ceremony will take place at the Aagrah Midpoint Suit on Saturday, June 11. The T&A has teamed up with Bradford Council and Bradford Chamber of Commerce for the awards ceremony.

Now in their sixth year, the Bradford Means Business Awards will put the spotlight on companies in the district. The deadline for entries for this year's awards is Thursday, March 24.

Christeyns, which has 130 staff on its books, says: "Training of employees is seen as an absolute fundamental of our business."

It also holds a gold level of the Investors in People award and has four apprentices within the company, who will all be offered jobs when they complete their course. A further two apprentices set to be recruited in May.

The Rutland Street firm has been established in the city since 1874, when it was known as Oils and Soaps.

It had a turnover of £28.68 million last year, up from £26.706m in 2014.

Nick Garthwaite, 59, Christeyns managing director, said: "We came runner-up in the same category last year.

"If we believe our business model is correct, then success comes.

"We have not stopped investing in our people over the last few years. Even in stretched times, we invest in people.

"Manufacturing is in our blood. All our products we supply are made in this country, For us, it makes no sense to produce them anywhere else in the world.

"We are a company with a long history in the city. I am sure we will continue to have a long history in the city."

The 11 T&A Bradford Means Business categories - each sponsored by local organisations - are designed to reward women in business, technical innovation, outstanding employers, talented apprentices, new enterprises and T&A readers' favourite retail and hospitality businesses.

Each category is sponsored by a leading organisation. Bradford Means Business sponsors this year are: Malik House Business Centres (New Business); Aaagrah (Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Business); LCF Law (Small/Medium Enterprise); Barrett Steel Ltd (Manufacturer); Bradford College (Job Creator); The Broadway (Business Woman); Telegraph & Argus (Employer); Craven College (Apprentice); Kirkgate Shopping Centre (Winner of Winners); Bradford Chamber of Commerce (Business Personality) and Bradford Council (Business of Technical Innovation).

Go to thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/business/business_awards/categories/ to enter the awards.