Press release: Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manchester has tripled its membership in just six months as it looks to celebrate this city's "immense entrepreneurial talent" through a new awards ceremony.

The organisation specialises in the personal development of young business people and professionals aged between 18 and 45 by holding networking, training and social events.

JCI Manchester - which was formerly the Manchester Junior Chamber of Commerce - was relaunched and rebranded in April by its new president, Debbie Rainford. Since then, its membership has rocketed to 60 with more than 500 business people joining its mailing list. The corporate membership of JCI Manchester has also increased from eight to 13.

The organisation is also hosting the inaugural '2010 Manchester Young Talent Awards' which have been established to recognise "outstanding individuals" exemplifying the best attributes of this city's young people.

Nominations are currently being invited for eight categories which include: entrepreneur/ innovator; business accomplishment; philanthropist of the year; environmental leadership; international impact; inspiring education; young professional of the year; and rising star award.

Mrs Rainford, who is a business litigation solicitor with Manchester law firm Ralli, said: "There is immense entrepreneurial talent across this city's public and private sectors and JCI Manchester is dedicated to fostering and promoting this in every way possible.

"Young business people and entrepreneurs realise that the programme of networking and training events we offer provide them with a superb way of maximising opportunities for themselves - and that's why we've seen membership and interest in JCI Manchester increase so rapidly since the organisation was relaunched.

"The 2010 Manchester Young Talent Awards will celebrate those outstanding individuals that are based here and I want people to shine a spotlight on their achievements by entering.

"I also hope that the awards will inspire other young business people and entrepreneurs in this city to strive for even greater success - which I believe will form the foundation stones on which the future economic prosperity of Manchester is founded.

"Anyone can enter the awards and the online application process couldn't be simpler or quicker."

The deadline for this year's nominations is Thursday, October 21, and the awards ceremony will take place at The Place Hotel, in Manchester, on Thursday, November 18. The event - which also includes a charity auction - is raising funds for Factor 50 which supports Manchester's Christie Hospital as well as for national homeless charity, Shelter.

The corporate membership of JCI Manchester now includes: law firms Ralli, Pannone, Davis Blank Furniss, Burton Copeland and Irwin Mitchell as well as Yorkshire Bank, Greater Manchester Chamber and Manchester City Council. Other corporate members include: accountants Ernst & Young and Moors Andrews and McClusky, Rhino Design, construction management firm Spring and Co, recruitment consultants Douglas Scott and CBG Insurance.

For more information about the JCI Manchester and entering or attending the 2010 Manchester Young Talent Awards on Thursday, November 18, log onto www.jcimanchester.com or email deborah.rainford@ralli.co.uk