By the time we die most of us will have spent around one quarter of our lives at work - but how often do we stop and think about the people we work with?

Work colleagues can make your daily life a living hell or an enjoyable experience - but all too often the good ones go unrecognised.

A new award for workers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire aims to change all that, with one lucky person due to be named Employee of the Year.

And the good news is, you, the readers of the Worcester News, get to choose.

But you have to hurry as nominations for the Employee of the Year award, organised by the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire, close this week.

Now in their fifth year, the Chamber Awards are recognised as the pinnacle of business success in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

There are eight award categories in all, with the new Employee of the Year award aiming to reward an inspirational, supportive, caring and conscientious co-worker.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 5, following which, the shortlist of nominees will be published in the Worcester News. Readers then vote for the entrant they feel best deserves the award.

"The employees of an organisation are so often overlooked," said Christine Jones, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"But good employees and co-workers can make or break an organisation.

"This new award aims to recognise the contribution one special person has made to the success of their organisation and the happiness of their colleagues. We are looking for all-round excellence - in attitude, motivation, standard of work and caring for, and helping, colleagues."

The winner of the Employee of the Year award will receive tickets to the Chamber Awards Dinner, on Thursday, June 8, which is this year being held at the magical Birtsmorton Court, a Mediaeval moated manor house, near Malvern.

To nominate a work colleague - or yourself - send the coupon on this page plus one side of A4 (maximum 400 words) stating why the person should win the award to: Employee of the Year Award, Worcester News, Promotions Department, Hylton Road, Worcester WR2 5JX.

For more information about the Chamber Awards 2006 visit www.hwchamberawards.com