The top companies and business leaders in the county have been shortlisted in the Oxfordshire Business Awards 2008.

Judges from a variety of business backgrounds have spent hours whittling 120 entries down to the top three in each of the 12 categories.

And the consensus is that the standard of entries this year has been higher than ever. Paul Lowe, chairman of the judging committee, said: "Our aim this year was to ensure the 2008 awards are a true celebration of Oxfordshire's diverse and thriving business community.

"And the fantastic standard of entries will certainly ensure the awards ceremony will live up to that.

"As ever, the judging process has been tough but I am confident the choices we have made will prove we have some of the most innovative and dynamic businesses in the country."

The finalists will now go forward to the gala awards ceremony being held at the Four Pillars Hotel, Sandford on Thames, right, on June 20, when the winners will be announced along with the overall Oxfordshire Business of the Year.

The occasion is expected to attract up to 500 people, making it the biggest event of its kind in the county.

The finalists on the shortlist are: Innovation: Tessella, Abingdon; Oxford Catalysts, Milton Park; Spice Application Systems, Cowley

Sustainability: Maylarch Environmental, Eynsham; Lti Metaltech Milton Park; Gifford, Witney

Charity and Community: Banbury and District Community Bus; Chipping Norton Lido; Oxford Inspires

Property and Construction: CBG Consultants, Farmoor; Ridge and Partners, Woodstock; Maylarch Environmental, Eynsham

Growing Business: Clinical Innovations, Abingdon; Holiday Lettings, Summertown, Oxford; 3 Monkeys Communications, Milton Park

Customer and Staff Care: Nominet, Cowley; South Oxfordshire Housing Association, Didcot; Cattles Invoice Finance, Abingdon

Large Business: RM, Milton Park; Buildbase, Cowley; Brady Corporation, Banbury

Creative: The Event Business, Banbury; Torpedo, Cassington; One Ltd, Summertown, Oxford

Hospitality and Leisure: Soll Leisure, Culham; Fallowfields Country House Hotel, Kingston Bagpuize; Blenheim Palace, Woodstock

Small Business: The Tibbetts Group, Bloxham; Onelan, Henley; Burnt Sugar, Wheatley

Young Business Person: Lucy Katan, executive director, British Grooms Association, Ascott-under-Wychwood; Tim Joslyn, managing director, Dilgenter, Cowley; Ross Elder, managing director, Holiday Lettings, Summertown, Oxford.

Business Person: Ben Prior, managing director, Supercamps, Milton Park; Ian Workman, area corporate director, Barclays Bank, Botley; Stuart Miller, chief executive, Bybox, Wantage