A VARIETY of sectors are represented among the nine shortlisted companies for February’s Guernsey Awards for Achievement.

In a break from tradition, the companies chosen to fight it out for the business awards were announced this morning instead of on the gala evening.

The NatWest best small business award will be contended by Betley Whitehorne, Resolution IT Limited and The Potting Shed Design and Advertising.

Network Insurance, Schroders (CI) Ltd and Vets4Pets Ltd have been short-listed for the BWCI best medium business award, while two companies from the finance sector, the BWCI Group and Ipes, along with retail giant the Blue Diamond Group, are in the running for the Healthspan best large business award.

The winners of these awards will then go head-to-head on the night to be crowned Guernsey business of the year.

Deputy Robert Sillars, chairman of the judging panel, said it had proved extremely difficult to separate some of the companies. In all there were more than 30 who entered.