Short listed companies announced for third Lloyds TSB Small Business Awards

Short listed for the DHL Customer Service Award are Smashing Windows!, Emirates Gate Real Estate and Marketboomer ME. Links Group Entrepreneurial Start-up Award: Content Syndicate, BizX Trading and Spatial Composite. KPMG Business Growth Award: The Entertainer, Explorer Publishing and Appetite Catering. 7Days Creative Promotion Award: Photolosophy, LunchBoxes.ae and Horseworld and shortlisted for the RSA Innovation Award: The Life Designers, Centre Stage Management and Ethos Consultancy. The Lloyds TSB Small Business Award will be awarded to the best overall shortlisted company

As with the previous years, the judging process will be rigorous. Short listed companies will be invited to present to a panel of the judges who select the eventual winners. The independent judging panel is made up of the CEO's, General Managers or equivalents of the sponsoring companies. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on the 14th December in the Godolphin ballroom at Emirates Towers with 500 guests expected to attend this unique morning event.

Graham Mitchell, Head of Commercial Banking for Lloyds TSB Group Middle East, said: "Lloyds TSB recognises the amount of work which goes into a small business and we are glad to be able to bestow this recognition of excellence on high achieving companies once again. We were extremely pleased with the quality of applicants for 2008 and would like to wish all shortlisted companies success for the judging day."

After the phenomenal success of last year's Lloyds TSB Small Business Awards, the 2008 awards will continue to raise awareness of the importance of small businesses to the UAE economy. As last year, the awards programme will recognise, support and reward entrepreneurs who have developed successful businesses. Any UAE based businesses with up to 100 employees and less than Dhs100m revenue were eligible to apply.

Bert de Ruiter Managing Director of Lloyds TSB Group Middle East, adds:

"The quality of this year's applicants have exceeded our expectations. I wish everyone the best of luck"