Five companies in the Inverurie area join 21 others as first round finalists in the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2007.

Poseidon Engineering Ltd and Vital Veg have been acknowledged in the Young Business Award category, which offers a prize of £2,000, for their ultra-high pressure water jet cutting and organic fruit and vegetable boxes respectively.

Filpumps Ltd has earned its status as a finalist in the Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award section, which also offers a prize £2,000, for the supply, installation and servicing of pumps and pumping systems.

Insensys Oil and Gas Ltd, for specialist integrity monitoring, and bakery and fresh food business JG Ross (Bakers) Ltd are both finalists in the Business Growth Award category, battling for the £2,000 prize.

Insensys Oil and Gas Ltd has also been short listed for the £5,000 prize that compliments the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation, whilst JG Ross is also a finalist in the same category as Filpumps Ltd.

Chris Travis, Chief Executive of Enterprise North East Trust, organisers of the awards, said: "This is the most diverse list of first round finalists that I can remember seeing during my many years of involvement with the awards.

"It is this diversity, alongside another two 'D's, dynamism and determination, that have become synonymous with the successes of businesses in the North east of Scotland.

"Once again, these qualities are evident in the high calibre of entries for the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise."

Second round finalists, all of whom will be announced on Monday, April 16, will be invited to attend a black tie awards dinner.

The finale will be held on Thursday, June 7 at Ardoe House Hotel, near Aberdeen, where winners will receive a handcrafted trophy, along with the cash prize.

Sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Scottish Enterprise Grampian, the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise is now in its eighth year.

North east companies of all sizes that are operating in a variety of industry sectors are recognised for their business achievement through the annual event.

Colin Donald, Director of Finance and Competitive Business of Scottish Enterprise Grampian, with whom the awards have been staged in conjunction with since 1999, said the particular diversity of the entries for the 2007 awards is to be welcomed.

He explained: "The very nature of the awards means that we are again seeing new start-up enterprises side by side with longer established businesses, and rural food sellers alongside oil and gas giants.

"Notably, many of the finalists are not only enjoying local success; a significant number of them are flying the flag for the area by achieving national and international recognition in their respective fields."

Stuart Heslop, Director of Commercial Banking, Aberdeen for RBS, added: "Aberdeen has been recognised as the UK's most competitive city behind London for businesses, and the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise are an opportunity to recognise the businesses that have driven this.

"I am sure the winners of this year's awards will take advantage of an increased public and business awareness to help further their future growth and development."
For further information on the awards, visit www.enetrust.com.