The shortlist for this year's Sussex Business Awards has been announced.

Judges have chosen 26 finalists ranging from industrial manufacturers to home-made cake suppliers, PR companies to healthcare providers.

Ten trophies are up for grabs including Best New Business, sponsored by The Argus, and the coveted Company of the Year and Business Person of the Year.

Almost 100 companies from all over the county entered the awards .

The names of the winners will remain a secret until the gala awards dinner at Copthorne Effingham Park, near Gatwick, on December 1.

ITV Meridian presenter Fred Dineage will host the event.

Malcolm Diamond, chairman of the judges, said: "We had an exciting yet difficult task this year. The list includes businesses and individuals who we recognised as the most outstanding in their category and the quality of applicants was higher than ever."

Table reservations for the awards ceremony are being taken by Sarah Shenston at the awards office on 01273 207155 or at www.sussex-business-awards.co.uk The finalists are:

Sussex company of the year - sponsored by Deloitte
- Kate's Cakes - Ashington.

- Neilson Active Holidays - Brighton.

- Southdown Housing Association - Lewes.

- Time 24 - Burgess Hill.

Best New Business award - sponsored by The Argus
- Abacus Family Solutions - Burgess Hill.

- Priory Emergency Treatment Services (PETS) - Brighton.

- Spaceover - Faygate.

Entrepreneur of the Year - sponsored by Business Link and Sussex Enterprise
- Jacky Misson (Nido Marketing) - Brighton.

- Paul Slip (Global Appointments) - Worthing.

- Violane Roberts (The Flying Fortress) - Arundel.

International Business award - sponsored by HSBC
- BUPA International - Brighton.

- Star Syringe - Pippingford.

- TR Fastenings - Uckfield.

Small Business award - sponsored by EDF Energy
- Abacus Family Solutions - Burgess Hill.

- Academy Internet - Brighton.

- Spaceover Ltd - Faygate.

Manufacturer of the Year - sponsored by BOC Edwards
- COSI Ltd - Littlehampton.

- More Food - Chichester.

- Plastipack - St Leonards.

Leisure and Tourism award - sponsored by The Priory Partnership
- Neilson Active Holidays - Brighton.

- Petworth House (The National Trust) - Petworth.

- The Flying Fortress - Arundel.

Sussex Business Person of the year - sponsored by Southern FM
- Caraline Brown (Midnight Communications) - Brighton.

- Graeme Wolford (Judges) - St Leonards.

- Jim Barker (TR Fastenings) - Uckfield.

University Enterprise award - sponsored by University of Brighton
- B & W Group - Worthing.

- HMD/Kontro - Eastbourne.

- Stamco Timber - St Leonards.

Learning Pays! - sponsored by Learning and Skills Council Sussex
l Leaders - Worthing.

l Sussex Health Care - Warnham.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005
l The Nugent Group - Handcross.