Twenty-three family businesses from across the West Midlands have made it through to the final stage of the Midlands Family Business Awards when they will be interviewed by a panel of independent judges.

99p Stores in Northampton, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Wednesbury's Perfection Foods, Coventry's Progressive Educational Tools, Special EFX Limited of Stratford, and Tiny Teddies Group of Coventry are among the region's most enterprising family run or owned businesses making the shortlist.

East End Foods of West Bromwich, Salts Healthcare of Aston and Alumet Systems (UK) Limited have each been shortlisted for the headline Midlands Family Business of the Year Award, sponsored by accountants Smith Cooper.

Whilst the shortlist for the Best Small Family Business category, introduced this year, includes Flip-in Hair Limited of Leamington Spa, McAuliffe Civil Engineering Limited of Wolverhampton, and the second shortlist position for Progressive Education Tools.

The Awards also recognise professional advisers in the category Leading Adviser to Family Businesses, sponsored by Unum. This year Midlands firms Shakespeares Legal LLP, PKF (UK) Limited, and Cooper Parry, which won the category in 2010, together with Baldwins Accountancy of Tamworth, and Telford's Kay Heald HR, have all reached the shortlist.

The 2011 Awards, which are underwritten by insurance broker and financial advisor The Wilson Organisation, attracted a record number of entries from family run and owned businesses. Sectors represented span manufacturing, engineering, transport, construction, healthcare, professional services, HR & Training, agriculture, retail and leisure.

The next stage involves all shortlisted companies being interviewed by the Awards' independent judging panel who will decide the overall category winner and two runners-up, which will be announced at an Awards ceremony in Birmingham on the 17th November.

The 2011 judging panel includes Perween Warsi CBE, of Derby-based S & A Foods, Parveen Mehta, Director of Birmingham-based Minor Weir Willis Limited (MWW) and Mark Samworth of Samworth Brothers, who will lead the judges of the headline Family Business of the Year Award. Also on the panel are Nicholas Wheeler of Charles Tyrwhitt, Tim Storer of Pukka Pies, Peter Thornton, Grant Gordon of the Institute for Family Businesses, Ron Lynch of the IOD and John Horrell of Dodson & Horrell.

Awards' Project Manager Hilary Campton comments: "With a record number of high quality entries across all categories, the judges spent many hours assessing, scoring and discussing the submissions. Entries were received from across the length and breadth of the Midlands, from family businesses with heritage stretching back ten generations through to those just starting out in business."

Wilsons' CEO, Annabel Prow, who coordinated the shortlisting process adds: "Both the volume and quality of this year's entries ensured that the judges had a busy September deciding on the top five for each category. Our rigorous scoring system was combined with some very healthy debate and we are delighted to see such a strong selection of Midlands family businesses represented in the shortlists. We wish them every success in the interview round."

The Midlands Family Business 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. They are underwritten by independent insurance broker and family-run business, The Wilson Organisation,

For more information visit www.familybusinessawards.co.uk or contact Ped Briggs, The Wilson Organisation, Tel: 0115 942 0111, email: pbriggs@wilorg.com. 

For more information contact Wilsons: Tel: 0115 9420 0111, or visit: www.wilorg.com.