A TOUCH of star power helped to spark the search for this year's unsung heroes in Cumbria's workplaces.

Actor Darren Jeffries, who plays OB in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, was among the special guests at the launch of the Excellence in Cumbria Awards.

Learning and Skills Council Cumbria organises the awards, together with partners Connexions Cumbria, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, the TUC and Cumbria SureStart.

More than 100 people attended the launch at Rheged, Penrith, which was addressed by LSC Cumbria executive director Mick Farley and Susan Milligan, winner of the skills for life prize in last year's awards.

Mr Farley said: "Excellence in Cumbria is now in its fourth year and is proving more popular than ever. The Awards are a key part of LSC Cumbria's strategy to raise awareness of the importance of learning and skills to the future of the county both in terms of business success and how the lives of individual people can be changed through the power of learning."

Individual awards are split into four area heats: Carlisle and Eden; Allerdale and Copeland; Barrow; and South Lakeland. Each area award winner is then invited to the county final to discover the overall winner in each category together with business award victors.

An Oscars'-style final will be held at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, on March 24 next year, with Falklands hero Simon Weston as the guest of honour.

Award categories Business awards l Businesswoman of the year.

l Developing excellence through people award for organisations that have boosted performance through developing their staff.

l Apprentice employer of the year for organisations committed to developing young people.

l Cumbria SureStart business excellence for businesses in the early years and childcare sector.

Individual awards.

l Connexions Cumbria youth progress award for 16 to 20-year-olds achieving a qualification and making progress in their everyday lives.

l Youth achievement award for 16 to 20-year-olds making an outstanding achievement in their work-based training.

l Skills for life award for someone returning to learning in order to change their lives.

l Adult learners for adults returning to learning, either for personal development or job-related qualifications.

l Apprentice of the year.

l Breakthrough award - for individuals who have broken the mould and work in non-traditional occupations, such as men in childcare or women in engineering.

l TUC lifelong learning award.

For more details of the awards or to nominate someone, contact Jeannie Abbot on the Excellence helpline, freephone 0808-1455-7788, or apply online at www.excellenceawards.

org.uk. The closing date for entries is December 17 for individual awards, and January 14 for business awards.