The Motor Transport Awards 2012 are now open for entries – and for 2012 we have introduced a couple of new categories to keep the blue riband awards even in the road transport sector fresh and up to date.

For 2012, we have introduced Apprenticeship of the Year, an award for the transport operator who has run an outstanding apprenticeship scheme in 2011. Road transport has traditionally been slow to take advantage of government-backed apprentice programmes, but this is changing with the launch of the new National Skills Academy for Logistics. This will provide a One Stop Shop Service to help operators take full advantage of the range of apprenticeships for logistics developed by Skills for Logistics. This award will recognise best practice in logistics apprentice training.

Also new for 2012 is a Team of the Year category. Open to any team of any size in any part of a logistics operation, the Team of the Year will be able to demonstrate that they have worked closely together to deliver either a major project on time and to budget or have consistently over-achieved in 2011.

To enter these or any of the other 16 Awards, go to www.mtawards.co.uk before the deadline of 16 March.