The Northern Lights Awards, the official awards for the UK Northern Powerhouse International Conference and Exhibition, have been launched.

The awards are designed to highlight collaboration between companies and within companies in the Northern Powerhouse geographical area, collaboration which ultimately leads to growing the Northern Powerhouse and helping to re balance the economy.

The awards winners will be announced at the Conference Dinner in Manchester on the evening of the 21st February 2017, the evening of the first day of the next UK Northern Powerhouse International Conference and Exhibition.

The Award categories are as follows:

• Northern Powerhouse Business Personality of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Public Sector Personality of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Young Business Personality of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Corporate Responsibility Award
• Northern Powerhouse Creative Industries Award
• Northern Powerhouse Energy Company of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Export Company of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Finance Company of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Healthcare Company of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Legal Practice of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Manufacturer of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Property & Construction Company of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Retailer of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Social Enterprise of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse Transport/Logistics Company of the Year
• Northern Powerhouse University of the Year

Further information regarding each Award Category and details of how to apply are available from Northern Powerhouse

The Awards will be judged by the UK Northern Powerhouse Advisory Board