THE finalists in the 2018 Bolton Business Awards have been chosen.

The high standard of entries gave our panel of judges some tough decisions to make, but after lengthy deliberations, they have come up with a shortlist.

And the winners will be announced at the awards dinner at The Macron stadium on September 27.

There are 15 categories and as judging was so close, some have more than the usual three shortlisted business.

Our sponsors for 2018 are Bolton Council, MBDA Missiles, The Market Place, Bristol Street Motors and Stateside Foods.

To book your table for the awards, download and complete the following form: Bolton Business Awards Booking Form.doc

The shortlisted companies are:

Business of the Year (sponsored by Market Place)

Darts Corner Limited, First Step (UK) Ltd, Hopefield Fab Ltd, Magnum Utilities, Scan Computers, WRPS Ltd

Business Person of the Year

James Bancroft — The ExcluSec Group Ltd, Stuart Convery — Magnum Utilities, Nikki Wilson-Cook — Market Place, Bolton

Start Up Business of the Year

A Year of Dates, AJF Commercial, Healthy Mind UK, Pin iT Ltd, Starts with you Ltd, The Beer School Ltd

SME Business of the Year (sponsored by Stateside Foods)

Handrail Creations Ltd, Harrisons Estate Agents Bolton Ltd, Landers Recruitment Ltd

Young Person / Apprentice of the Year

Clayton Beattie — MBDA Missile Systems UK, Sarah Cocker — Darts Corner Limited, Ellie Entwistle — Bring Digital, Dale Hibbert — Seddon, Beth McGlinn — Bolton College

Best Company for Apprentice Development

Keoghs LLP, MBDA UK, Premex

Family Business of the Year

Bain Plumbing Services Ltd, Bring Digital, HCS Cleaning Services Ltd, Horwich Carpets & Interiors, Wunderleys Cafe Bistro

Customer Excellence Award (sponsored by Bristol Street Motors)

Beauty by Sonia, Market Place, Bolton, The ExcluSec Group Ltd

Retailer of the Year Award

Bolton Market, Market Place, Bolton, Scan Computers

Community Award

Bolton Family, Bolton FM and Bolton Hospice in Partnership, Boo Coaching & Consulting, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Westhoughton Community Hub

Employer of the Year Award

Appletons, Bring Digital, Keoghs LLP, The ExcluSec Group Ltd

Innovation Award

Bolton College, Bolton Hospice, The ExcluSec Group Ltd

Manufacturer of the Year (sponsored by MBDA Missiles)

Hopefield Fab Ltd, Pure Fabs Ltd, Toughsheet Building Products

Not for Profit Organisation of the Year

Birtenshaw, Bolton Cares, Bolton Middelbrook Leisure Trust, Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme, Emmaus Bolton

Editor's Award

To be announced on the night