Finalists revealed in Shropshire Business Awards
A mix of some of Shropshire biggest businesses, brightest start-ups and longest-established companies will battle it out for the gongs at this year's Shropshire Business Awards.
The companies that will contest the 11 awards at the annual event on July 11 have now been decided.
Among them are huge manufacturers such as Saint Gobain PAM UK, Stadco and Caterpillar, start-ups like The Plant Centre at Ludlow and GWR Fasteners in Oswestry, and long-established local firms like Morris Lubricants and Salop Design and Engineering.
In the blue riband Company of the Year category, multi-national manufacturer Saint Gobain in Ketley, Telford, Morris Lubricants in Shrewsbury, Grainger & Worrall in Bridgnorth and The Hawk Group at Prees Green will battle it out for the top prize.
It comes after a record 174 entries were submitted for the annual awards bash.
Richard Sheehan, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce which organises the event, said: "Never in the 14 year history of the business awards gave we seen the independent shortlisting panel so challenged in the process of decision-making and finding four companies from many worthwhile and worthy applications.
"Once again a record number of entries came in for the awards, and as in previous years the quality has improved on the year before."
To book tickets for this year's event, visit the website at www.shropshirebusinessawards.co.uk
In full all this years runners and riders:
Company of The Year - Saint-Gobain PAM UK, Telford; Morris Lubricants, Shrewsbury; Grainger & Worrall, Bridgnorth; The Hawk Group, Prees Green
Best New Business - The Plant Centre, Ludlow; Envirep, Shrewsbury; GWR Fasteners, Oswestry; Xativa Training & Consultancy, Telford
Managing Change - Rockford IT, Telford; Rybrook BMW Shrewsbury; SLC Solicitors, Shrewsbury; Base Architecture, Shrewsbury
Technology Enterprise & Innovation - Aura Light UK, Telford; Thermserve, Telford; Caterpillar Shrewsbury; Clear Design, Shrewsbury
Outstanding Customer Service - Dyke Yaxley, Shrewsbury; Aubrey Kirkham Funeral Directors, Shrewsbury; e-know.net, Telford; SLC Solicitors, Shrewsbury
Best Small Business - Boxall & Edmiston, Atcham; Zen Communications, Shrewsbury; Reech Media Group, Shrewsbury; Jesmonite, Bishops Castle
International Trade Through Export - 3CL Closed Circuit Cooling, Telford; The Hawk Group, Prees Green; Jesmonite, Bishops Castle; Red Step Marketing, Shrewsbury
Apprentice of the Year - Pipekit, Shrewsbury; Rybrook BMW, Shrewsbury; Grainger & Worrall, Bridgnorth; The Hawk Group, Prees Green
Business in the community - Marches Care, Oxon; Energize STW, Shrewsbury; Henshalls, Newport; British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry
Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality - The Buckatree Hall Hotel, Telford; Shrewsbury Flower Show; The Prince Rupert Hotel, Shrewsbury; Sabrina Boat Tours, Shrewsbury
Manufacturing Excellence - Salop Design & Engineering, Shrewsbury; Morris Lubricants, Shrewsbury; Grainger & Worrall, Bridgnorth; Stadco Automotive, Telford
