A TOTAL of 26 businesses are represented in the shortlist for the third Fenland Enterprise Business Awards, run by this newspaper in association with Fenland District Council.

Gardening schools, electricians, vegetable packing firms, dog groomers and fashion specialists all feature on the shortlist for 10 of the 12 categories.

Amanda Carlin Ltd - a one-stop shop for business support run by Amanda Carlin of Wimblington - leads the way with three nominations.

The company is in the running for Small Business of the Year and Ms Carlin is in contention for the Women In Business Award and the Business Person of the Year award.

But Ms Carlin faces competition close to home in the Business Person of the Year category - from her husband Craig Brown of Heritage 4x4.

The third nomination for Business Person of the Year is Andrew Sparrow of Fenland Leisure Products, Christchurch, the company which was crowned Business of the Year at the first awards in 2009.

Commercial Utility Brokers (UK) Ltd, based in March, has three nominations in two categories. The company is up for Employer of the Year and Jodie Busby and Rachel Graves are two of the three nominations for Young Apprentice of the Year, the new award formed in memory of Craig Bird who died in a car crash last year.

Craig, who was 18, was an apprentice at Metalcraft in Chatteris - and the third nomination for his award is Metalcraft apprentice Anthony Palmer.

PurePAT Electrical Testing and The Ferry Project, both in Wisbech, are each shortlisted for two awards.

The winners of each category will go forward for the overall Business of the Year prize, which last year was won by James Graven & Sons of Chatteris.

The full shortlist:

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Commercial Utility Brokers (UK) Ltd, March

Fenmarc Produce, March

PurePAT Electrical Testing, Wisbech

The Ferry Project, Wisbech

YOUNG APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Jodie Busby, Commercial Utility Brokers (UK) Ltd, March

Rachel Graves, Commercial Utility Brokers (UK) Ltd, March

Anthony Palmer, Metalcraft, Chatteris

GREEN AWARD

English Brothers, Wisbech

Greenvale AP, Doddington

Kier Eastern, Wisbech

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Craig Brown, Heritage 4x4, March

Amanda Carlin, Amanda Carlin Ltd, Wimblington

Andrew Sparrow, Fenland Leisure Products, Christchurch

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Claire Lilley, Premier Properties, Chatteris

Nickie Bantoft, Bantoft & Co, Wisbech

Amanda Carlin, Amanda Carlin Ltd, Wimblington

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Doggy Styling, March

Buttercross Auctions, Whittlesey

Manea School of Gardening, Manea

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Food Fix Ltd, Wisbech

Elegance Designer Wear, March

Amanda Carlin Ltd, Wimblington

Fenpack, Chatteris

MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The Construction Index, March

Delamore, Wisbech St Mary

The Ferry Project, Wisbech

Dots 2 Tots, Chatteris

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

PurePAT Electrical Testing, Wisbech

Acorn Lodge Kennels & Muddy Paws Dog Grooming, Eye

Choye Par Sharon, Gorefield

RETAILER OF THE YEAR

The Octagon Gift Shop and Gallery, Wisbech

Savvy Cinderella Ltd, Manea