THIS year's Liverpool ECHO Enterprise Champions Awards feature one of the strongest fields since the competition began four years ago. Judges were impressed by the quality of businesses bidding for glory in the finals, held this year at The Supper Club on Blundell Street on June 15 and compered by TV personality Simon O'Brien.
Phil Wolsteholme, Merseyside Special Investment Fund portfolio manager and the independent chair of the judging panel, said deliberations continued long and hard as they whittled down almost 120 entries to three nominations for each of the six categories.
The shortlisted companies and organisations are listed below.
The Enterprise Champions Awards are in association with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank and supported by Business Link for Greater Merseyside.
Micro Business of the Year, sponsored by Liverpool ECHO 1 VAT Solutions (UK)
Formed in 2001 by Andrew Needham and Steve Allen, the firm of chartered tax advisers acts for clients to save them money through improvements to their systems or arguing their case for rebates.
Customers range from small businesses to British Nuclear Fuels. Some of the Warrington firm's successes include the reduction of a £42,000 assessment by HM Customs to just £2,000 and the complete withdrawal of a £240,000 civil fraud penalty, plus payment of all their client's professional costs by HM Customs. 2 Iochre Consulting This Warrington-based firm has established a world-class reputation in the construction industry for its work in glass facade support structures, despite only entering the market in 2001.
Iochre, headed by Paul Arnold and Richard Allen, works closely with St Helens glass giant Pilkington and their first successful collaboration was on the redevelopment of Liverpool John Lennon airport.
Since then projects have included a 1,000 sq metre glass wall on the Isle of Man Pulrose Power Station; a project at Israel's Ben Gurion airport; and the new Metropolitan Hotel in Beirut. 3 Approach Training Bill Thorpe set up his Knowsley company in 2000, providing guidance on how to manage aggressive and violent behaviour.
Since then he has secured contracts with the NHS, education, social services and the private sectors, including some international work. Best Small Business, sponsored by Business Liverpool 1 A Algeo Speke-based Algeo dates back to 1881 but is very much established in the 21st century after its purchase by Alan and Diana Sheridan in 1990. Algeo supplied local shoe shops with leather goods but the new owners saw the potential of its then small links with orthopaedic shoe makers. Today it boasts a 6,000-strong range of products and a £3.5m turnover, having boosted the workforce from three in 1990 to almost 40. 2 Vitaflo International Vitaflo has established a niche in specialised dietary products for children with metabolic diseases since setting up in 1998 on Brunswick Business Park.
The company produces sachets of easily consumable flavoured and unflavoured protein substitutes which suit the hectic lifestyles of young and teenage users. 3 Powder Systems Ltd This Speke business was winner of the inaugural Enterprise Champions award and since then has increased its reputation in the production of medical manufacturing equipment.
It anticipates global success for a new range of reactors used in research and development. PSL already exports 85% of its goods around the world and is planning to build bigger premises to cope with demand. Best New Business, sponsored by Business Link for Greater Merseyside > > > | 
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