The finalists of the 2016 Caerphilly Business Forum Awards have been announced.
The awards, which recognise the best of business in Caerphilly County Borough, are made up of seven categories.
Hallets Cider, Asbri Golf Ltd and Focused Recruitment have been shortlisted for Business of the Year with 25 employees or fewer, while Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel and Spa, Educ8 and Contract Services Group will be competing for the Business of the Year Award with more than 25 employees.
In the Contribution to the Rural Economy category, Sirhowy Valley Honeybee Company and Cwm Carno Farm have been shortlisted, while Service Tracker UK and Bon Bon Buddies will battle it out for the Innovation Award.
Individual nominations include Gemma Hallet of MiFuture, Cariann Emanuelli of WIZE, David Wiffen of DW Studio and Gareth Jones from Welsh ICE who have been named finalists in the Entrepreneur of the Year category, while the Apprentice of the Year Award shortlist includes Gavin Moulsdale and Liam Smith both from British Airways Interiors Engineering, and Dewi Patterson from Excellence IT.
Finally Kathryn Morgan of Focused Recruitment, Sian Brake from Penybryn Engineering and Mandy Weston of Welsh ICE are all in the running for the Women in Business Award.
A Premier Award will also be given to the business deemed the ‘overall winner’ in partnership with accountancy firm Broomfield and Alexander.
The awards will take place on Friday, November 18, at Bryn Meadows in Maesycwmmer, and will be hosted by BBC Wales Today’s Jamie Owen.
Denise Lovering, Chair of Caerphilly Business Forum, said: “The forum would like to say a huge congratulations, not only to those companies shortlisted to win an award this year, but to all those who entered.
“As ever the standard of nominees was incredibly high, there is so much good work to be proud of in Caerphilly today.”