Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has announced its eagerly-awaited shortlist of finalists for the prestigious Northern Star Business Awards 2009.

In what has been a record year for nominations, 42 finalists have made it through to the final stages and the winners of the 14 categories will be announced at a glittering Awards Ceremony and Dinner on September 24 at the Press & Journal Arena at the AECC. A number of entries also received Judge's Commendations.

Chamber Chief Executive Bob Collier said:

"The Northern Star Business Awards are all about recognising and celebrating business achievements across all sectors so we're really delighted that the nominations we have received have exceeded all previous years. It is a real testimony to the ongoing buoyancy and sustainability of the North-east business community.

"This has been seen as a challenging year for business and the fact that many of our businesses have continued to flourish and grow and enjoy success has sometimes been overlooked, particularly in the media. This is an opportunity to showcase some of the best that the region has to offer."

Banff-based ACE Winches has been shortlisted in four categories in this year's awards while space planning company ASM and Iicorr, which specialises in integrity, inspection and corrosion are shortlisted in two categories. Newcomers to the Awards in 2009 included architects the Jam Studio from Fetternear near Inverurie and The Breadmaker.

This year for the first time the Overall Business Award has been split into three categories - Small, Medium and Large - to better reflect the composition of the Chamber's membership and an award for Sustainability was reintroduced to support the growing number of companies which include sustainable practices in their business plans.

Northern Star Business Awards Finalists 2009 (Alphabetically)

Overall- Small- Sponsored by North East Reprographics

ASM

Fergus & Glover

Lewis Limited

Overall- Medium- Sponsored by North East Reprographics

Champion Technologies

Iicorr

Munros Travel Group

Overall- Large- Sponsored by North East Reprographics

Accenture

Bibby Offshore

Craig Group

Best Use of ICT

Aker Solutions

Converged Communication Solutions

SCRSolutions Ltd

Commended- Arrowdawn

Commended- Indigo

Customer Service - Sponsored by Fergus & Glover

BAA Aberdeen

Iicorr

Prestige Scotland

Internationalisation- Sponsored by Confiance Employment Services Ltd

ACE Winches

Dominion Gas

LA Recruitment

People Development - Sponsored by Aberdeenshire Council

ACE Winches

Aramark

Technip

Renewable Energy - Sponsored by AREG

Active

SeaEnergy

Subocean Group

Commended- Puffin Pellets

Research & Development- Sponsored by ITI Energy

Aker Solutions- Subsea Web

Flexlife Ltd

Read Well Services

Rising Star- Sponsored by AGR Petroleum

Craig Reid- Bibby Offshore

James Gregg- ACE Winches

Keith Drummond- Aker Qserve

Socially Responsible - Sponsored by Doubletrees by Hilton

ACE Winches

Jam Studio

Northsound Radio

Commended- ASM

Student Placement- Sponsored by Aberdeen Business School

AMEC

ITI Energy

NHS Grampian

Sustainability - Sponsored by Aberdeen City Council

FIS Chemicals

Green Ocean Energy

The Breadmaker

Woman of The Year - Sponsored by Union Square

Amanda McCulloch- Thorpe Molloy

Tracey Devine- Angels

Tracie Watson- Crescent

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