AT last, after a three month’s-long battle of the businesses, the finest contenders emerge.

And today we announce the finalists of The Press Business Awards 2008 – the three best entrants in each of 14 categories who, in the words of our theme this year, are Reaching For The Top.

They are the cream of a vast crop of ventures who shrugged off the doomsayers amid fuel crisis and credit crunch to stake their claim to a place at our 18th annual glittering presentation in the Voltigeur Suite, in the Knavesmire Stand, at York Racecourse on Thursday, November 13.

All of the finalists will now be scrutinised during site visits by our panel of judges. They will eventually decide each of the category winners and the ultimate victor – the business which will earn the coveted John Guy Memorial Trophy, named after the Business Link adviser and stalwart Press Awards judge who died in April last year.

No fewer than five of this year’s businesses were good enough to “do the double” – appear in the final line-up of not just one, but two categories.

Yorkshire Air Museum of Halifax Way, Elvington, is in the final three for both the Best Business & Education Link category and the Tourism & Hospitality Business Of The Year.

Its rivals in the Tourism and Hospitality category are the Woodlands MS Resource and Respite Care Centre of York, which provides 400 places for those severely affected by multiple sclerosis – victims and carers. Woodlands is also in the running for the Progress Through People accolade.

Tour operator, Great Rail Journeys of St Saviourgate, York, is on a twin track course to possible victory in both the Large Business Of The Year and Growth Business Of The Year categories.

Not only is Janice Dunphy in the running for the Women In Enterprise title, but also her amazing Creepy Crawlies adventure play park in Clifton Moor has been chosen in the final line-up for the Small Business Of The Year.

Apart from Rana Harvey of Dazzling Dummies in Stockton-on-Forest, Janice’s rivals in the Women In Enterprise category are Joy Devine and daughter, Liz Devine-Wright whose hat and accessory business in York Road, Tadcaster is also a finalist for the title of Retailer Of The Year.

They have tough competition in the Retailer Of The Year category, not only from Ainsty Farms Direct in York Road, Green Hammerton; but also from The Japanese Shop, of York, Harrogate and Chester.

Could this be another moment of glory for Jez Willard and his wife, Hiromi, who in 2004 punched the air twice over – first by winning the Retailer Of The Year title, then by becoming the overall Business Of The Year?

Another previous overall winner, The Balloon Tree Farm Shop and Café of Stamford Bridge Road, Gate Helmsley, is this time a finalist in the brand new category of Family Business Of The Year.

Unless, of course, category rivals Harrison Signs and Wallis Business Services, both of Clifton Moor, have anything to do with it...


Large Business Of The Year
Great Rail Journeys, tour operator of, St Saviourgate, York.
Redworth Construction of, Welham Road, Norton.
William Anelay, construction and restoration, of Murton Way, Osbaldwick.

Small Business Of The Year
 Purenet, e-commerce software solutions, Enterprise House, York Science Park, Innovation Way, York.
Creepy Crawlies, family leisure, of Cliftongate Business Park, Wigginton Road, York.
Dazzling Dummies, mannequins and shopfittings, of The Bull Commercial Centre, Stockton-on-Forest.

Growth Business Of The Year
 Erudine Software, IT company, Central House, Beckwith Knowle, Harrogate.
Great Rail Journeys, tour operator of St Saviourgate, York.
Assurant Solutions Intermediary of Amy Johnson Way, Clifton Moor, York.

New Business Of The Year
 My High Street Card, Wistowgate, Cawood.
Flymenow.co.uk, private travel, 29 New Street, Acomb, York.
Urban Construction Interiors, The Menagerie, Skipwith Road, Escrick.

Best Business & Education Link
 Woodlands MS Resource and Respite Care Centre, Thief Lane, Hull Road, York.
Yorkshire Air Museum, Halifax Way, Elvington, York.
Intraining Employability, Ryedale Building, Piccadilly, York

Think Green Business Of The Year
 Envirovent, producer of condensation control units, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate.
Green-Tech, landscaping suppliers, Sweethills Industrial Park, Nun Monkton.
Platinum Print, Park House, Hookstone Park, Harrogate.

Young Business Entrepreneur Of The Year
 Paul Ellis of Skelwith Group, Kensington House, Westminster Place, York. Business Park, Poppleton
Chris Chittock of Dragonfly Acoustics Ltd, Chestnut Mews, Cawood, Selby.
Anna McAuley, Papillon, The Arena, Cliftongate Business Park, Wigginton Road, York.

Progress Through People
Woodlands MS Resource and Respite Care Centre, 120 Thief Lane, Hull Road, York.
Royal York Hotel & Events Centre, Station Road, York.
Happy Jays, children’s day nurseries, Audax Close, Clifton Moor.

Science and Technology Business Of The Year
 Erudine Software , IT company, Central House, Beckwith Knowle, Harrogate.
Iccom Ltd, telecoms and IT consultancy, Bondgate, Helmsley, York.
Authentix Ltd, Chessington Park, Common Road, Dunnington, York.

Retailer Of The Year
 The Japanese Shop, 7 Beech Avenue Business Park, Harrogate.
Simply Devine, specialist hat shop, 83 York Road, Tadcaster.
Ainsty Farms Direct, York Road, Green Hammerton.

Women In Enterprise
 Janice Dunphy of Creepy Crawlies, Cliftongate Business Park, Wigginton Road, York.
Rana Harvey of Dazzling Dummies, The Bull Commercial Centre, Stockton-on-Forest.
Joy Devine and Liz Devine-Wright of Simply Devine, 83 York Road, Tadcaster.

Business Personality Of The Year
 Paul Smith, of Quartz Travel, 81 Heworth Road, York.
Andrew Loftus of Weeton’s, West Park, Harrogate.
Clive Wilson of Primeast, Greengate, Cardale Park, Harrogate.

Tourism and Hospitality Business Of The Year
 Yorkshire Air Museum, Halifax Way, Elvington, York
The Grange Hotel, 1 Clifton, York
York Marriott, Tadcaster Road, York

Family Business Of The Year
 Harrisons Signs Ltd, Link House, Green Lane Trading Estate, Clifton Moor, York.
The Balloon Tree Farm Shop and Café, Great Helmsley.
Wallis Business Services Ltd, Unit 15, Kettlestring Lane, Clifton Moor.

Lifetime Achievement Award
 Yet to be decided