Wearside business hopes to create jobs in the world of art - and win Sunderland Echo Business Excellence Award glory

But Kerry Cook wants to go even further.

She has plans to make her town centre business a place where people can get a warm welcome this Winter as they face up to the cost of living crisis.

Kerry has run The Art Room for four years and it has brought art education to thousands of people since then.

She said the business had ‘gone from strength to strength’ and added: “I employ other artists to come and teach on project contracts. It is proving to be really popular and the plan is to employ more.”

The Art Room’s aim is to give more people access to art education regardless of their financial circumstances.

Kerry’s immediate aim for this Winter is “providing a warm and welcoming safe space within the city centre that offers companionship and friendship for many local families and individuals who may be face difficulties over the coming months due to the cost of living crisis, loneliness and isolation”.

Warm drinks, a chance to enjoy great company, book swaps and a chance to make loved ones a gift for Christmas are also on the agenda.

The Art Room, which is based in Fawcett Street, becomes the latest entry in the Sunderland Echo Business Excellence Award and Kerry said she would be ‘thrilled to be shortlisted.”

This year’s awards backers include Sunderland City Council, our partners in the competition and the headline sponsors.

Also on board are the North East BIC, Chilli Mangoes, Marelli, Wilf Husband, Harrison and Brown, Gentoo, Sunderland University and Sunderland College.

We thank them all for their invaluable support.

Now it is over to you. We want the best in Wearside and County Durham industry to enter the awards.

To enter, choose the most appropriate category for your business, and nominate by using the link below.

You can nominate your own firm or a company which you think deserves an accolade.

For further information and to enter, visit www.sunderlandbusinessawards.co.uk

Closing date for entries has been extended to October 5. Judging will take place shortly after the closing date and the shortlist will be announced in October.

The eventual winners will then be duly announced at a finals night in November.

Before then, though, we need your entries and here are the categories for this year. It’s a mix of much-loved awards from previous years and some great new additions.

The categories:

*SME Business of the Year - (Sponsored by the North East BIC).

*Large Business of the Year - (Sponsored by Chilli Mangoes).

*Best Independent Business.

*Social Enterprise of the Year - (Sponsored by the North East BIC).

*Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year.

*Apprentice/Trainee of the Year.

*Sustainable Initiative of the Year - (Sponsored by Marelli)

*Business in the Community Award.

*Employer of the Year.

*Entrepreneur of the Year.

*Lifetime Achievement Award.

*Business of the Year (Sponsored by Sunderland City Council).

Get those entries in and put your company in the running for honours before time runs out.