Black Orchid Marketing of Fordham has been named as a finalist in the Micro Business of the Year category of the 2007 Startups awards. The marketing agency will be one of four finalists in the category at the Startups Awards 2007, which are being held in

Black Orchid Marketing of Fordham has been named as a finalist in the Micro Business of the Year category of the 2007 Startups awards.

The marketing agency will be one of four finalists in the category at the Startups Awards 2007, which are being held in London on October 31.

The shortlisting judges were impressed by Black Orchid's concepts, achievements and potential, placing the business among a handful of lucky finalists plucked from hundreds of entries.

Black Orchid Marketing works with organisations and companies including, Ely Museum, BP, The National Trust, the East Of England Development Agency, Royal Artillery Museum and the Canadian International Air Show.

Black Orchid director Frank Crosby, Ely resident and director of Black Orchid said: "We are thrilled to be a finalist in the Micro Business category and very much look forward to the event in October.

"It's great that all our dedication and hard work has been recognised and we're delighted to be in with a chance of not only winning the category, but also the much-coveted NatWest Startups Business of the Year prize.

"We aim to keep Ely area businesses on the map!"

INFO: To be eligible to enter the Startups Awards 2007, businesses must have been trading for less than three years, be privately owned, and employ fewer than 60 people.

This year's judging panel consists of some of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs, including Martin Webb, entrepreneur and presenter of Channel 4's Risking It All, Tim Campbell, winner of BBC's The Apprentice, 2005 and Jonathon Moules, entrepreneurship correspondent at The Financial Times.

The judges look at a wide range of criteria; in particular, business success either by increase in sales and unit volume, market research and identification of customer focus, organisational and team building effectiveness, strategic planning, overcoming obstacles and barriers to success, visionary leadership and social and community responsibility.