WIRRAL Chamber of Commerce has announced the full list of award nominees who will go forward to the grand final of its Wirral Business Awards 2015, writes Jess Carney.

The list consists of 36 nominees, who will compete in 13 award categories to be crowned winners at Thornton Manor on September 18.

The event, organised by Wirral Chamber of Commerce, is supported by headline sponsors Magenta Living, The Contact Company and Park Group PLC.

The competition is recognised as one of the region's most prestigious business events, highlighting the wealth of innovation and enterprise the business community has in developing Wirral and the wider city region as a location of excellence.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, Paula Basnett said: "We are delighted to be able to run such a successful event as the Wirral Business Awards on behalf of our business community.

"This year the standard of entries excelled and made the judging extremely difficult, but I am sure that the finalists will represent the best of Wirrals innovative and enterprising businesses."

The complete list of award categories and nominees consists of:

Newcomer of the year - Apollo Care Wirral Ltd, Extreme Low Energy Ltd, Whitmore & White Ltd

Business of the Year (under 11 employees) - Equipped 4 Ltd, Innov8 Safety Solutions and Helukabel UK Ltd

Business of the Year (11-49 employees) - Capital Reinforcing (Ireland) Limited, Heap & Partners Ltd, Hoist UK Ltd

Business of the Year (50+ employees) - B&M Waste Services, The Contact Company, Thextons

Business Person of the Year - Chris Jordan (Faiveley Transport), Ian Dolman (Woods Squared Limited)

Alan Woods Community Award - Claire House Children's Hospice, Stick 'n' Step, Wirral Hospice St John's

International Trade Award - Bennett & McMahon Agencies Limited, Dantec Sovex Systems

Sustainability Award - Bennett Williams Solicitors, Finsa and Mere Brook House

People Development Award - Daisy and Jake Day Nursery, Paddock Johnson Partnership, PIMSS Data

Investment of the Year - sponsored by Peel Group Carr Farm Garden Centre Long Bow Shop Ltd Redsun Development

Young Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Halliday Funeral Supplies John Adams (Halliday Funeral Supplies) and Rebecca Hulse (McEwan Wallace) and Natasha Burns (Women's Enterprising Breakthrough)

Customer Service Award - Caffe Cream of New Brighton, CJ Charles Ltd and Wirral Society of the Blind

Financial and Professional Services Award - Bennett Williams Solicitors, Hillyer Mckeown and Woods Squared Limited

Additionally, two further special awards will be presented at the event ceremony:

Outstanding Business of the Year (sponsored by Wirral Council) Long Service Award (sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport)

Chris Fry, Office Senior Partner at KPMG,  said: "This is my first year judging the Wirral Business Awards, and I was impressed with the quality of the entries.

"In all categories there were very strong contenders for the various awards and it often proved a challenge to decide upon the nominees and ultimate winner."

This view was supported by Richard Malley, of Handelsbanken, who said: "In my second year as a judge I have again been impressed by the number and quality of entrants for the various awards.

"The Wirral Business Awards is a great addition to the region's business calendar and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the gala awards dinner."

More than 600 leading business people are expected to attend the Evening Gala Dinner at Thornton Manor on September 18 September when the awards will be presented on what promises to be one of the region's largest business networking events of the year.

The event is also being supported through additional sponsorship by: Print - Tyger Print and Design Media - Wirral Radio Reception - Typhoo.