The short-listed entries for the Mayor of Hackney’s Business Awards 2010 are announced today.

The annual awards, now in their fifth year, are dedicated to recognising and celebrating the excellence and diversity of businesses in the borough.

Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe said: “The standard of entries this year has been very high, and the judges and I were extremely impressed. Small and medium sized businesses are at the heart of Hackney’s local economy and the number of high quality entries we received shows that entrepreneurship is continuing to thrive in the borough despite the difficult economic climate. I would like to congratulate everyone who has been short-listed.”

The winners will be revealed at a reception on 14 September.

Mayor Pipe was joined on the judging panel by: Sinclair Beecham MBE, co-founder of Pret a Manger and owner of the Hoxton Hotel; Ian King, Deputy Business Editor of The Times and Hackney resident; Yvonne Thompson CBE, one of the founders of Choice FM; and Dave Blake, Publishing Director at newspaper group Archant London, which publishes the Hackney Gazette.

The Mayor of Hackney’s Business Awards 2010 shortlist -

Best in the Business:
HCT Group
Boulevard Catering & Events
Point Blank

Best Green Business:
Green Bottle Unit
The Green Man & Van

Best Creative or Media Business:
Dezeen Limited
Brickwall Films
Vjem Events

Best Social Enterprise:
Renaisi Ltd
HCT Group

Best New Business:
Pages of Hackney
Lock 7 Ltd
Dezeen Limited

Best Leisure or Entertainment Business:
Boulevard Catering & Events
Vjem Events
Fun Events Corporate Services Limited