Pictured above: Hilary Campton

Fifty shortlisted finalists - whittled down from the 100-plus entries - have reached the final stage of nominations in the Midlands' first-ever Family Business Awards.

Five businesses in each of the Award's ten categories, including the headline Midlands Family Business of the Year Award, now move forward to the final judging stage and represent "some of the region's most progressive and enterprising family businesses," according to the Awards' organisers. 

Leicester business Anand International, Chesterfield's Penny Hydraulics, Whittaker Office Solutions of Loughborough, Birmingham's Grayson Thermal Systems and Scotts of Thrapston, Northamptonshire, have been shortlisted for the headline Family Business of the Year Award, which will be judged by Tim Storer, managing director of Pukka Pies, Alistair Wesson of RSM Tenon, Charlotte Prow, MD of Wilsons which is underwriting the Awards, and John O'Reilly of emda.

The judging schedule involves informal interviews which will take place throughout September. The shortlisted company's will meet with the category's panel of judges, who will identify the top three and overall category winner.

All category winners and the overall Family Business of the Year will be announced at a glittering ceremony on the 11th November 2010, at the family-owned Thrumpton Hall near Nottingham.

Amongst the 2010 Awards' judges are Carrie Rubin, Director of Pentland Group who will judge Business Innovation of the Year with Nitin Khanna of EFG Private Bank and Shahid Sheikh of the IOD, whilst the panel for The Fastest Growing Family Business will be judged by local entrepreneur Andrew Springhall, Martin Boddy and Richard Comer of Connect Midlands, and Lorna Collins of Bristol University

Judges of the Personal Excellence category will include Mark Samworth of Samworth Brothers, Trevor Bowmer of Mitre Group and Fergal Dowling of law firm Irwin Mitchell. Midlands Business Insider's assistant editor Sam Metcalf, Axa's Andy Moore and Ron Lynch of the Institute of Directors will judge the Adviser to Family Businesses category.

Peter Thornton, former Chairman of Thorntons plc is on the judging panel for the Overcoming Adversity category, whilst Judy Naake founder of St Tropez, Alan Drury of Aviva, Darrell West of The Venture Foundation and Dhiren Katwa, senior news editor of Asian Voice, the national newspaper, will decide the business that has made the most significant Commitment to the Community. 

James Timpson, managing director of Timpsons, joins Richard Bates of Young & Pearce and Grant Gordon, Director General of the Institute for Family Business, on the panel to find the Best Newly Established Family Business.

Project Manager of the Awards, Hilary Campton, Director of V Formation Limited, says: "The calibre of entries has proved the wealth of top quality family run and owned businesses we have operating in every corner of the region. The combination of our high calibre of supporters and eminent judges, all leading professionals in their field, makes for an informed judging panel which truly understands the essence of running a successful family business." 

A full list of the businesses shortlisted in the Awards is available at www.familybusinessawards.co.uk.

More than one-hundred family run or owned businesses from across the Midlands entered the Awards, which launched in March and are underwritten by Nottingham-based independent insurance broker and family-run business, The Wilson Organisation. The Awards' is a not-for-profit venture, with all proceeds going to charities supporting young enterprise and young people - The Children's Society, The Willow Foundation and The Venture Foundation.

For more information about the Awards presentation Ceremony, contact Wilsons' Marketing Manager Leah Bradley, tel: 0115 942 0111, email: lbradley@wilorg.com.

The Wilson Organisation, based in Nottingham, provides professional independent insurance, financial, risk management and corporate finance solutions to businesses and individuals both regionally and nationally. It is a Top 100 UK independent broker and has developed innovative solutions through strong relationships with insurers and financial services providers. For more information, visit: www.wilorg.com, or Tel: 0115 942 0111.