A FIRE protection company, which installs automatic extinguishing systems on to machinery used in extreme conditions, is to represent the UK in the European Business Awards.

Ardent Ltd, based in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, has been selected as one of 16 national champions in the awards and will compete for the coveted Ruban D’Honneur status in the next round of the competition.

People voted online after companies put together video entries for the competition and a panel of judges chose another 15 organisations that exhibited innovation, business excellence and sustainability to represent the UK.

Emma Kirk, marketing executive for Ardent, said: “We’re proud to be selected to represent the UK as a National Champion. The European Business Awards is widely recognised as the showcase for Europe’s most dynamic companies and we are now looking forward to the next round of the judging process where we can explain in more depth how we are achieving business success in these tough trading conditions.”

The national champions will be reassessed by a third panel of judges and the winners will be announced in April.