Two Black Country organisations are through to the national finals of the 2005 Chamber Awards after being named best in their categories in the West Midlands.
The Public community arts organisation based in West Bromwich has won the regional Entrepreneur of the Year award and bathroom accessory maker Vogue UK of Willenhall is the regional Export Communicator of the Year.
Both were presented with winner's certificates by Wolverhampton North East MP Ken Purchase and Black Country Chamber's Dudley president Sylvia Wellings.
They now go through to the national finals to be held in London in November.
Vogue is the UK's leading manufacturer of heated towel rails, designer radiators and accessories, while The Public is currently building the largest community arts development in Europe, designed by architect Will Alsop and due to open in 2006.
The Public has proved controversial, with some people loving it and others considering it an eyesore.
Ian Brough, chief executive of Black Country Chamber, said: "The Chamber Awards 2005 provide us with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the success of businesses across the country. Those who have got this far are already recognised as outstanding.
"I congratulate them and I am proud that there are two winners from Black Country Chamber."
Each regional winner receives a certificate and goes through to the national round of judging and the chance to win the top prize of £25,000 and the Microsoft Award for Outstanding Business Achievement. Last year's winner was DB Shoes of Northamptonshire, which used database technology to pull itself back from the brink of receivership and enter new and profitable niche markets.
The national winners will be announced at a dinner at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on November 24. n Due to an error by the supplier, yesterday's photograph of the Black Country Asian Business Association award winner was incorrectly captioned. The caption should have read Pav Dhillon of WIP International, not Raj Ojelay. Mr Ojelay, of Bilston Engineering, was awarded a lifetime achievement award.
