SEVERAL west and north Wiltshire firms have been nominated in the Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards for 2008.

There has been a record number of entries and the finalists are listed below And now all the shortlisted candidates can do is wait for February to come around when the winners will be announced.

Regarded as the Oscars for businesses in the county, as usual the winners will be announced at a dinner at the De Vere Hotel in Swindon on Friday February 29.

So it's time to get out the posh frocks and tuxedos for what is certain to be one of the best evenings of the year. More that 250 people are expected to attend the gala dinner.

But for the finalists, the celebrations began back in December at the finalists' cocktail party.

Judges are now scrutinising every entry to pick the winners.

"We have had a brilliant 2007," said Jane Greer, who is Newquest's business sales manager and organiser of the awards.

"The number of entries has been the highest yet and the quality just gets better and better. I'm really excited and looking forward to a great competition."

Full list of the nominations

  • SMALL BUSINESS (Sponsored by FSB)

  • Swindon Publications Limited
  • Office Evolution
  • Advanced Battery Care
  • Swisher
  • AM training Services Limited
  • Worldbelts
  • Fancy Tea?
  • Castles
  • Evar (exception VAR Ltd)
  • Wall to Wall Decorating Limited
  • A Beckett's Vineyard
  • TTS Europe
  • You Beauty Clinic
  • ABC Networking Limited

    INNOVATION & GROWTH (Sponsored by Nat West)

  • Online Legal Services
  • Infinite Group
  • Erebor Limited
  • Rygor Limited
  • Exception EMS Limited

    ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Target Consulting)

  • Art Meets Matter Limited
  • Rygor Group
  • Online Legal Services

    ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD (Sponsored by Beard)

  • Who Cares Limited
  • The Consortium
  • The Real Paintbox Company
  • Helen Brownings Organics

    SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY (Sponsored by BBC Radio Swindon)

  • Zurich
  • The National Bullying Helpline
  • Who Cares Limited
  • Sarsen Housing Association
  • Westlea Housing Association
  • AM Training Services Limited

    INTERNATIONAL TRADE (Sponsored by Wessex Chambers)

  • Cartus
  • Helen Brownings Organics
  • Exception EMS Limited

    BEST BUSINESS CULTURE (Sponsored by Mainline Employment)

  • Carpeo Limited
  • Cartus
  • Strakers
  • Who Cares Limited
  • The Consortium