Prizes will be awarded to the winners and runners-up in each town centre, as well as for the overall winner and best effort across the borough.

Balham has provided the overall winner for the past two years in which Wandsworth Council has run the competition, which is also sponsored by the Wandsworth Guardian.. Last year's winner, Sandie Hughes from HSBC, won first prize of a weekend for two in Europe. She will also represent Wandsworth in the first ever national SkillRETAIL competition in July.

Sandie said: "I saw SkillRETAIL as an opportunity to prove my knowledge and skills to my employer and myself. I have since been promoted within HSBC."

Registration of competitors and judges is underway and is being managed in Balham by the Town Centre manager intern, Sara Nasuti.

She is keen to involve all retailers in Balham in the competition.

She said: "I urge all of Balham's businesses to participate in this important opportunity. If you are not able to offer competitors, be a judge and support Balham's business community."

To volunteer as a SkillRETAIL competitor or judge for

Balham, e-mail snasuti@wandsworth.gov.uk or call 020 8871 8461 for general details.