TONIGHT the Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards finalists gather for the biggest night in East Lancashire’s business calendar.

Three enterprises have been shortlisted in each of 10 categories and will do battle for top honours at the 2011 Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards at Ewood Park, Blackburn.

Despite public spending cuts and the tough economic climate not just in the Eurozone but around the world, the past year has seen some remarkable achievements by businesses based here in East Lancashire.

Finalists include some of the area’s biggest names like Aircelle, the Daisy Group, Simon Jersey, WEC Group and window makers VEKA as well as one of the oldest, Daniel Thwaites, which has more than 200 years of trading history.

There are also newer arrivals ranging from What More UK, which exports plastic housewares to 38 countries, to a pioneering children’s nursery and a housewife who has turned her talent for cakemaking into a thriving business in just eight months.

Precision engineers Fort Vale and the Merc Engineering Group compete with Aircelle for the prestigious top title of Business of the Year.

The finalists have been selected by panels of judges representing sponsors United Utilities, Blackburn College, BAE Systems, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cobham plc, Napthens, Hyndburn Enterprise Trust and Community and Business Partners.

They are all in for a great night at our awards ceremony to be hosted again by North West Tonight weather presenter Dianne Oxberry.

Guests will be entertained by Dr Kevin Jones, who combines a career as a leading consultant chest physician with 15 years' experience as a hilarious after-dinner speaker.

Awards shortlists

Business of the year

Fort Vale Engineering, Burnley
Aircelle, Burnley
Merc Group, Barrowford.

Training and development

Daisy Group, Nelson
Veka Group, Burnley
York Nurseries, Burnley.

Deal

LC Automation, Blackburn
Simon Jersey, Altham
WEC Group, Darwen.

Small business

Eco Solartech, Accrington
M65 Recruitment, Blackburn
Scancapture, Rishton.

Environment

Aircelle, Burnley
Eco Solartech, Accrington
Veka Group, Burnley.

Innovation and technology

Cleverboxes, Clayton-le-Moors
Copifax, Burnley
Prestige Medical, Blackburn.

Team

Daniel Thwaites, Blackburn
M65 Recruitment, Blackburn
Mitchell's Scaffolding, Accrington.

Export

Cleverboxes, Clayton-le-Moors
Fort Vale Engineering, Burnley
What More UK, Padiham.

Social & community development

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen
Herbert Parkinson, Darwen
Veka Group, Burnley.

Retailer

Cleverboxes, Clayton-le-Moors
Cupcakes and Cookies, Blackburn
Simply Electricals, Accrington.