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
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