Business Awards shortlist unveiled

Jun 14 2007

THE shortlist for this year’s Daily Post Regional Business Awards has been unveiled.

The judges had to sift through 84 top quality entries to draw up this year’s shortlist.

The events main sponsors are law firm DLA Piper, accountancy firm KPMG and Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank.

The shortlist for eight of our categories is:

Liverpool John Moores University New Business of the Year

The Contact Company

The judges were impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit of this already successful and exciting new call centre company. The Contact Company has hit the ground running, showing rapid growth and commitment not only to its clients but also to the region of Merseyside.

Urban Revolution

The judges found this company to be innovative in tackling a major blight on our city streets in the form of chewing gum on pavements.

It's the Little Things

The judges liked the different approach this company has to offering a traditional service. It’s the Little Things tries to improve on the traditional nursery service that is already available by introducing flexibility and creativity for children and parents alike.

The company offers a service that is based on quality rather than price.

Business Liverpool Small Business of the Year

AA Projects

The judges recognised the good margins that AA Projects has achieved. It has established an excellent reputation in a niche area. In addition, AA Projects has increased its number of employees from 3 to 45 in only 8 years.

New Mind

This web design business was seen as creative, innovative and at the front end of technology.New Mind offers a leading e-tourism system from its base in Merseyside and, with a broadening business base, it has real global potential.

Ventcroft

The sustained increase in turnover that Ventcroft has achieved in the last two years impressed the judges. This manufacturer has developed new products to refresh itself as a business and shown willingness to invest for the future.

Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Medium Business of the Year

St Helens Rugby League Football Club

The success of the rugby club has not just been on the playing field – it can also be attributed to the success of the management team. In only four years losses of £1m have been turned into profit. This combined team has also created a very successful brand image for the region.

SOG

Not only has this property company done a remarkable job in breathing new life into what was ICI's abandoned Runcorn laboratories, SOG has also set about constructing new buildings on adjacent land and will therefore attract even more high value science and technology jobs to the region. The judges noted that SOG has achieved such success without a single penny of public sector funding.

Caldeira Ltd

The judges picked out this textile business as one that has demonstrated a willingness and ability to compete in a global market. Caldeira has achieved significant growth and turnover at a time of rapid expansion overseas to maintain profitability. The principals in this Knowsley company are willing to play a wider role in their community while remaining focused on their success.

The University of Liverpool Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Medicash

This company has always maintained a strong awareness of corporate social responsibility issues. In order to mark and celebrate its 135th anniversary it made donations to 19 health and welfare charities across the UK supporting individuals and families. Medicash has supported such charities as NSPCC's Safe Place Appeal, the Merseyside Society for Deaf People and the Roy Castle Lung Foundation through a corporate and consumer plan.

The Contact Company

The founders of this company played host to the BBC in March 2007 and set up Wirral's first Red Nose Day operations centre. Staff and volunteers took part and raised over £100,000, contributing 2,000 man hours and, in the case of two staff, flowing locks of hair were shorn off to raise an extra £600 in a sponsored head shave.

Royal Liver

Since its inception almost a century ago, this mutual has invested in the local community and has always encouraged staff to volunteer their time and expertise. More recently, Royal Liver’s commitment to the local community has been demonstrated by creating a vegetable garden for the community in Old Swan and fundraising for a community nursery in Toxteth. The life assurance business has also helped homeless people to develop the skills needed to return to work, with its human resources department helping to write CVs and conduct mock interviews.

The Mersey Partnership Investment of the Year Award

Land Rover

This company has secured major investment in the face of international competition. It is a company that has sustained commitment to the region and one that has secured Halewood’s status as one of the most productive plants in the Ford motor group’s worldwide operations.

Aerogistics

Since 2006, Aerogistics has invested more than £650,000 in their new facility which has included the land, property, renovation, existing and new assets and new equipment. The site, based in Mielec, is the only independent aerospace approved treatment facility in Eastern Europe. This has elevated the position of Aerogistics within the global supply chain and has enabled the business to work directly with the world's leading aerospace firms.

Ventcroft

Due to continued success since 1991, this company has regularly expanded and additional land has been acquired to meet its growing needs and initiatives. This is a company that has developed new products to refresh itself as a business and shown willingness to invest for the future.

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce International Trader of the Year Award

A.Algeo

Over the past 10 years, A. Algeo has grown to become one of the UK's leading suppliers of materials and components to the chiropody and orthopaedic markets. The business manufactures and distributes in the UK and overseas. During 2006, A. Algeo distributed products to 44 countries around the world and over 40% of their internet traffic originated from North America.

AEV

From its formation in 1982 this manufacturer has been active in exports. More than half of AEV’s total sales are exported. The company exports to 76 countries worldwide and has shown its commitment to the region over the past 25 years by maintaining its base on Merseyside.

Caldeira Ltd

Caldeira operates from a base in Knowlsey Business Park in Merseyside. Since 2004, the company has expanded significantly internationally with additional offices in China and New York. Caldeira now sells its products to over 20 countries worldwide and to every continent. It is now not only a leading British firm but a leading firm within its niche.

Northwest Regional Development Agency Science and Technology Business of the Year

IOTA Nano Solutions

This Mersey bio-based company has applied ground-breaking solutions to numerous products across multiple industry sectors. They have established effective partnerships for development and dissemination of their products and signed a joint venture deal with Unilever to assist with potential commecialisation.

MA Logistics

This firm has been at the forefront of implementing global logistics software with a score of similar freight firms. The Intrra system is described as the world’s leading e-commerce ocean logistics platform.

3B View

3B View is a software development business that specialises in content and document control systems. The company's main product removes hidden information from Microsoft Office and Open Document format files. This sort of security is vital in industries such as legal and financial services as well as local and central government. Led by CEO and co-founder Cathy Brode, St Helens-based 3B View was set up in December 2005 and is already a global player with customers in the UK, Europe and USA.

KPMG Business of the Year

Lime Pictures

Based in Childwall, Lime Pictures is the UK's biggest independent drama producer in the UK. Dramas include Hollyoaks, Grange Hill, Bonkers and The Outsiders. With 351 full-time staff and up to 150 freelancers, it is a major local employer in the media sector. Since 2004 its turnover has increased by 18% and profits by 45%.

Warmer Heating T

his company has grown significantly since its creation in 1994. Over the years Warmer Heating has secured contracts from both local housing authorities and trusts to government funded schemes. It has grown gradually and acquired new premises in Merseyside. It always strives to recruit local people, increasing staff from 50 to 70 in 2006, showing its commitment to the region.

Royal Liver

This long-standing iconic Liverpool life assurer has transformed itself in terms of financial performance in recent years. Entrepreneurial leadership is evident in this well-established business. Despite going through change, Royal Liver has held on to it's principles at all times.

THE winner in each of these categories will be unveiled at a black tie gala dinner at St George’s Hall on the evening of Thursday, June 27. A ninth award, the DLA Businessperson of the Year award, will be presented to a leading figure deemed by the judges to have made a substantial contribution to their business and the region’s reputation.

To book tables for the big night please call our events department on 0151 472 2805.

Tickets are priced at £950 plus VAT for a table of ten or £95 plus VAT per seat.

This event is very popular and many tables have already been booked. So if you want to attend, please get in touch as early as possible to avoid disappointment.