THE SHORTLISTS for this year’s Enterprising Worcestershire Awards have been revealed following the judging process.
The accolades shine a spotlight on successful start-up and early-stage businesses which have been supported through the Enterprising Worcestershire Programme and those who have supported entrepreneurs in the county over the past two years.
Enterprising Worcestershire has been delivered by the county council and a record number of businesses and individuals have entered this year’s awards.
Susan Crow, Worcestershire County Council’s strategic programme manager for the economy, said: “It was enormously encouraging to see such a high calibre of entries for the awards.
“The awards are a celebration of the extraordinary entrepreneurial talent in the region, so it was great to have a record number of entries.”
She wished all the businesses and individuals shortlisted the best of luck.
In the ‘Best Growth Business’ category, Optimec Metrology Ltd in Malvern will battle it out with Worcester’s COHO and Apogee Associates Ltd in Redditch.
The ‘Best Start-Up Business’ will be contested by Trainer Armour Ltd in Bromsgrove, Smile Box in Redditch and Droitwich-based Refurbished Turbine Components Ltd.
In the running for the ‘Champion for Entrepreneurs’ accolade will be BizSmart in Bromsgrove, Worcester’s Rock Solid Consulting Ltd and Real World Consultancy Ltd in Worcester.
Umani Chef in Pershore, HR Hero in Bromsgrove and Mind Safe in Malvern will battle it out for the ‘Innovative Business Award’.
And in the ‘Sustainability Award’ section, Carbon Forest Products Ltd in Evesham, Worcester-based Grubbs Up Ltd and Calathea Supply Chain Ltd in Stourport-on-Severn made the shortlist.
There will also be a Young Entrepreneur Award as part of this celebration.
Winners will be revealed at an exclusive awards ceremony on April 27 at a special ceremony at The Wood Norton Hotel in Evesham.
Enterprising Worcestershire is part funded through the European Regional Development Fund.
The programme supports pre-starts and early-stage businesses through a combination of one-to-one support, workshops, grant funding and coaching.
