THE finalists for the 2019 Bolton Business Awards have been announced.

And dozens of firms will by vying for glory at a glittering ceremony at the Last Drop Village hotel on September 26.

Companies are battling it out over 12 categories - with the Editor’s Award to be confirmed on the night.

One of the most hotly-contested sections is the start-up prize, where judges will have to sift through 10 top-class entries.

Sponsors for the event include Bolton Council, Stateside Foods, Market Place, MBDA Missiles, Thrive, Baldwins and Farnell Jaguar Land Rover.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Magnum Utilities

Scan Computers

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR:

Maura Jackson - BACKUP NW

Claire Crompton - The Audit Lab

James Bancroft - Exclusec Group

START-UP BUSINESS:

Cherry Moon Ltd

Chorley New Road Tuition Centre

Action Coach North West

Jewel Home Support

Montann Ltd

Northern Monkey Brew Co.

Real Life Health and Fitness

Sushma’Snacks

The Audit Lab

The Railway Bromley Cross

SME BUSINESS:

ABP Technology

Aquavape

Jewel Home Support

MBW

Traffic Management Survey and Design

YOUNG PERSON/APPRENTICE:

Isabelle Beatty - AFG Law

Caitlin Hesketh - Bolton College

Helen Wood - MBDA UK

Jessica Freeman - MBDA UK

Ryan Naylor - MBDA UK

FAMILY BUSINESS:

Design and Build Publishing

HCS Cleaning Services

Scruffy Monkey Web Design and Digital Marketing

Sushma’Snacks

Taylors Theatre Academy

Traffic Management Survey and Design

CUSTOMER EXCELLENCE:

Gorilla Accounting

Harrison Estate Agents Bolton

Holiday Inn Bolton

Market Place

Rivington Mortgages

The Exclusec Group

Thornton & Lowe

REGENERATION PROJECT

Appletons

Thrive

COMMUNITY:

Bolton Film Festival

Bolton Hospice

Bolton Pride

Market Place

Sanber

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR:

Appletons

Bolton Hospice

Boo Coaching and Consulting

Jewel Home Support

The Exclusec Group

INNOVATION AWARD:

Market Place

R&D Tax Solutions

Radic8

The Exclusec Group

Thrive - Miller House

ABP Technology

NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION:

Fortalice

Bolton Hospice