Finalists announced for the 2015 E3 Business Awards

1 Events Media, the host of the 2015 E3 Business Awards has announced the names of the 70 finalists who will be competing in the event's 16 different award categories.

The results will be announced at the E3 Business Awards Dinner, which will take place on Thursday 11th June at the Macron Stadium in Bolton.

Launched in 2013, the E3 Awards celebrate diversity in the North West business community. The nominees comprise a mix of companies, social enterprises and high-achieving individuals.

"The Awards are now in their third year," said 1EM managing director Mubarak Chati. "Each year, we see the number of entrants go up and the standard of entry seems to rise in parallel. Based on last year's nominations, we decided to increase the number of award categories from 12 to 16, and that's proven to be a very welcome move because entries this year have risen by more than 30%.

"The success stories we're reading are hugely encouraging; so much is going on here in the North West - companies and individual entrepreneurs are doing some truly spectacular things. One of the categories that really stood out for me was the 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year'; I looked at some of the nominations and they were fantastically impressive - young people with drive and energy, spearheading companies that are innovating, expanding and achieving really substantial sales. The Nominations Panel had a hard job in picking the finalists; in selecting a winner, the Judging Panel now faces an even tougher challenge.

"That's just one of sixteen categories, of course. We're witnessing similar tales of success, commitment and invention right across the board - and from right across the region. From Cumbria to Cheshire, businesses are doing all the things that make them so valuable to the North West - creating jobs, supporting skills and invigorating the local economy. The E3 Awards are there to recognise their efforts in terms of enterprise, education and employment, and having seen the standard of this year's nominations, I can see there is going to be plenty to celebrate."

Tickets for the awards dinner are now available. More details can be found at www.e3businessawards.co.uk.

The 2015 finalists

New Business Start-Up of the Year:• Expert Security UK, Bury • FireCask, Manchester • Marvel At Everything, Chorley • Mymanu, Manchester

Corporate Social Responsibility Award:• Emmeline Illustration, Chorley • Our Local Heroes Foundation, Preston • The Grand at Clitheroe, Clitheroe

Social Enterprise of the Year:• Abu Hanifah Foundation (AHF), Blackburn • Active Tameside, Hyde • Diverse Road Safety CIC, Garston • Pendle Action for the Community, Nelson • The Brink, Liverpool

Skills, Education & Training Award:• JRC Roofing Distributors, Burnley • SR Supply Chain Consultants, Preston • Tinies North West, Stockport • Wardworth, Bolton

Employer of the Year:• Claim Easy, Altrincham • KTG Social Care, Preston • Physiofusion Ltd, Burnley • Waterside Dental Care, Rochdale

Online Business of the Year:• E-Dressage, Crewe • Little Wings Factory, Stockport • NCC Resources, St Helens • The Cake Nest, High Peak

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award:• Justin Dooley of Caffe Cream of New Brighton, Wirral • Liam Bateman of Silverchip, Manchester • Phil Eckersley of Bridgewater Home Care and Bridgewater Day Care, Wigan • Sameena Khan of Little Wings Factory, Stockport

Outstanding Woman in Business:• Fiona Atkinson of Tinies North West, Stockport • Julie Bowmer of Likahea Holdings, Rochdale • Elaine Bousfield of Xenzone / KOOTH, Manchester • Linda Price of Swimtime, Manchester • Dr. Pamela Coates of Waterside Dental Care, Rochdale • Dr. Shikha Pitalia of Pall Mall Medical, Wigan

Green Business of the Year:• AMS Accountants Group, Manchester • Cool Canvas, Bolton • The Pets Country Manor, Liverpool

Family Business of the Year:• Arthur Padgett, Nelson • First Class Childcare Group, Whalley • Forshaw Land & Property Group, Bolton • Woodford Building & Supplies, Stockport

Professional Firm of the Year:• AMS Accountants Group, Manchester • ARMSA Consulting, Warrington • JFS LLP, Blackburn • MWA Accounting, Manchester

Customer Service Award:• Bank View Smile Studio, Blackburn • Crompton Way Motors, Bolton • Imperative Training, Manchester • JRC Roofing Distributors, Burnley • Matrix247, Haslingden

Manufacturing Business of the Year:• Assembly Solutions, Bolton • Fumecare, Formby • Remvox, Preston • The Printed Cup Company, Clitheroe

High Growth Business of the Year:• AD Sprinkler Protection Ltd, Denton • Claim Easy Ltd, Altrincham • Global Support Services (UK) Ltd, Lymm • Lantei Compliance Services, Preston • MAC Roofing and Contracting Ltd, Wirral • Parcel Plus, Stockport

International Business of the Year:• Fumecare, Formby • Kaya Responsible Travel, Manchester • Powder Systems Limited, Liverpool • The Printed Cup Company, ClitheroeBusiness of the Year:• Assembly Solutions, Bolton • AdaptiveComms, Southport • BAKO North Western, Chorley • Puddle Ducks Franchising, Crewe • R-Com Consulting, Stockport • Ruby & Daisy, Haslingden