The deadline is fast approaching to enter Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2016.

Nominations close at midnight on Friday March 4 for the flagship event which is run by business body BPS Birmingham Future.

Winning the coveted title of BYPY can mean for some simply a title demonstrating their professional achievement but for others it opens doors to really make a difference to Birmingham.

Here are ten reasons to enter this year:

1. Being a finalist is a sign of distinction, demonstrating your ability to think innovatively

2. As BYPY, you will form part of a network that spans across some of the most influential circles in Birmingham's business community

3. Finalists stand out among the crowd, going on to further develop their area of expertise

4. Have the opportunity to build your network of contacts and shape the city that you love while having fun

5. Being BYPY opens doors that would otherwise be closed and ultimately generates new business opportunities across your industry and the BPS sector as a whole

6. Being BYPY allows you to showcase and develop your skills in front of an experienced, high-profile judging panel, which in itself can open new doors

7. BYPY helps to raise your own profile by promoting your personal brand and organisation

8. As part of BYPY, you can meet like-minded, ambitious and talented individuals, cementing friendships

9. Our finalists form part of Birmingham's platform to become the city's future business leaders

10. Being a finalist is just the start - it shows someone who is determined and has the drive to achieve great things going forward

Entrants must be 35 or under and can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague.

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised as a talent in your industry, organisation or network, nominate them.

BPS Birmingham Future needs the business community's help to recognise young talent within the city and provide them with the opportunity to promote their brand and achievements, and truly be recognised as part of a distinguished group of professionals.

Once again, BYPY will this year recognise talented individuals across six separate categories (see last year's winners here):

- Finance

- HR, Recruitment & Training

- Legal

- Marketing & Communications

- Property & Construction

- Technology

One of the six category winners will then be named overall Birmingham Young Professional of the Year for 2016.

Previous BYPY winners include property professional Gary Taylor (2001); businessman and professional speaker Karl George OBE (2002); PR agency owner Ruth Pipkin (2006); lawyer-turned-property developer Anthony McCourt (2008); utilities entrepreneur James Villarreal (2010) and urban designer Katie Kershaw (2015).

Visit the BPS Birmingham Future website to download a nomination form.

BYPY 2016 takes place at the ICC in Birmingham on May 12 - to book tickets and tables to the event visit BPS Birmingham Future.

In partnership with BYPY