Now in our fifth year, the C+D Awards are back and open for entries. Bigger and better than last year, the competition is all about finding the very best people and services in the sector and it culminates with community pharmacy's very own red-carpet evening at a top London venue next May, when the 12 winners will be revealed and given their trophies at a glittering black-tie dinner.

The categories have been refined with some new ones introduced to reflect the changing roles of community pharmacists and their teams. So whether you're a clinical, business or management star, the C+D Awards 2012, in association with the NPA, is your chance to show why you deserve the recognition and accolade of your colleagues and peers.

From support staff to pre-reg graduates and from LPC chief executives to pharmacists, if you regularly go above and beyond the call of duty when creating or delivering pharmacy services, this is your chance to win one of the highly-coveted C+D Award trophies. Four expert judges are assigned to independently mark each category – it's a thorough process but it does mean that getting shortlisted and winning a C+D Award puts you into a very select group of people who've achieved this honour.

Last year's event was a dazzling black-tie occasion. The winners received their trophies from comedian Sandi Toksvig in front of a sell-out crowd of 600 people at the exclusive Hurlingham Club in London and partied late into the night. This year, there are 12 categories covering every aspect of pharmacy practice – so make sure you don't miss the chance to be a C+D Award winner.

Trophies will be presented at a star-studded awards ceremony on Tuesday May 29, 2012 at The Brewery, a stunning grade II listed building nestling in the heart of the City of London. So make sure you complete your entry and - you never know - it could be you picking up the winner's trophy at the C+D Awards 2012.

But remember that you have to be in it to win it – so make sure you get your entries submitted as the deadline is February 24, 2012. And if you're shortlisted, you'll be invited to the Awards evening as C+D's guest.

To read hints and tips on entering click here and to enter the awards click here. Scroll down to find features on last year's winners and videos from the 2011 Awards' evening.

Good luck

Gary Paragpuri, C+D Editor