Businesses on board for awards success

A number of Birmingham-based businesses and organisations are in the running for top awards at the 2010 Midlands Business Awards.

Both Aston University and the University of Birmingham have been shortlisted in the Enterprising University of the Year section, while Mel Kang, the driving force behind Birmingham bus company AMPM Travel, which runs services between Birmingham and Solihull, is in the final five in the Midlands Young Entrepreneur of the Year category.

The 20-strong Computerworld Business Solutions, which provides outsourced IT support for a range of businesses, is in the running for the Midlands Service Provider of the Year award.

Indestructible Paint, which supplies aerospace coatings internationally, has been nominated for the Midlands Exporter of the Year title, while business networking group My M-Link is competing with Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry – and three others – for the title of Midlands Networking Club of the Year.

The awards are now in their fourth year and have grown annually. They culminate in a gala dinner and ceremony to be held on Friday 29January 2010 at the NEC Hilton Metropole Hotel. This year’s guest of honour will be Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Harj Sandher, MD of organisers UK Special Events, the company behind the awards, said: “Feedback from the judges indicates that the awards are growing in popularity and in quality. That makes their job much harder and some of the debates on the finalists have been very intense.

“We keep saying that the range of talent in the Midlands is huge and the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking and it has never been more true. Our winners to date have found the whole experience extremely positive.”

An independent panel of judges will evaluate all the entries and the five businesses that make the final shortlist in each category will be asked to present their case in person.