THE shorlist of finalists for this year's Wirral Business Awards 2017 has been revealed.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at Thornton Manor on September 22.

Organised by Wirral Chamber of Commerce and now in its eleventh year, the awards recognise innovation and enterprise.

A four-strong judging panel decided which entries made it through to the final in each category, comprising Chris Fry, office senior partner at KPMG in the UK), Ben Miller; partner at DLA Piper, Alan Evans, strategic commissioner for growth for Wirral Council and Paula Basnett, chief executive of Wirral Chamber of Commerce.

Paula Basnett said: "We are very proud to organise this annual event on behalf of our business community.

"This year we received record numbers of entries and the quality excelled which made the judging extremely difficult.

"However, I am confident that the chosen finalists will be great ambassadors in representing the best of Wirral’s businesses."

Chris Fry added: "The awards demonstrate the huge contribution businesses make to the economic growth and prosperity of our local economy through national and international trade.

"The standard of entries this year have again been extremely high and consequently was very difficult choosing those which are going forward to the next stage, but I offer my congratulations to all the applicants and finalists."

The complete list of finalists are:

Newcomer of the year - sponsored by Stiebel Eltron UK

  • Hygienic Innovations
  • Roberts Snack Shack
  • Sure Solutions
  • Three Dimensional Training

Business of the year (under 11 employees) - sponsored by Pacific Sheds

  • Blackberry Grove
  • Gud Design
  • Red Apple Education
  • Vigo IT Solutions

Business of the year (11-49 employees) - sponsored by McEwan Wallace

  • Hi-impact consultancy
  • Hoist UK
  • Horner Downey
  • Plus Point

Business of the year (50+ employees) - sponsored by NW Systems Group

  • Capital Reinforcing
  • CPL Training Group
  • Russell Taylor Group
  • Typhoo Tea

Business person of the year - sponsored by Smylie Ltd

  • AF Global - Keith Taylor
  • Joanne Finnerty Recruitment - Joanne Finnerty
  • Plus Point - Mark Sweeney
  • Russell Taylor Group - Ben Russell

Rising star - sponsored by Young Chamber

  • The Jackson Canter Group – Katherine Spaughton
  • Joanne Finnerty Recruitment – Claire Statham
  • Passport Language Solutions – Jennifer Foulds

International trade award - sponsored by Peel Group

  • AEV
  • Paragon Scientific
  • Regal Wholesale
  • Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Sustainability award - sponsored by Unilever

  • B&M Waste Services
  • Brooklet Farm & Livery
  • Floral Pavilion
  • Stiebel Eltron UK

People development - sponsored by B&M Waste Services

  • AF Global
  • Capital Reinforcing
  • Cirrus Purchasing Ltd
  • Unilever

Customer service - sponsored by The Contact Company. Winner will be decided by public vote

  • Auger
  • Inteb Managed Services
  • LBW Accountants
  • The Light Cinema

Outstanding business of the year - sponsored by Wirral Council

  • The judges will select one winner from all entries received and the namer will be revealed on the night.