THE six firms in the running to win an amazing £10,000 prize have been announced.

The firms face a Dragons Den-style grilling as part of the Business Boost competition run by CN Group, publishers of the North-West Evening Mail.

One winner will be a business up to five years old while another will be an established business of any age with fewer than 250 employees.

Chartered accountant Lamont Pridmore will offer free advertising, mentoring and support to enterprises which show growth potential as part of the initiative.

Lamont Pridmore will also offer an additional special sponsors’ prize of free consultancy support to a business that it feels will benefit particularly.

Six businesses will win £10,000 to spend on advertising in our newspapers and associated websites – there will be one winner from each category for north, west and south Cumbria.

The chosen six are:

Fewer than 250 employees: Barrow Training Partnership, of Barrow, Brathay Hall, of Ambleside , Clocktower, of Milnthorpe;

Up to five years: Supply Chain Cumbria, of Ulverston, The Lakeland Pudding Company, of Haverthwaite, Camp Cumbria, of Ulverston.

Graham Lamont, of Lamont Pridmore, said: "The standard and quality of entry has improved significantly (over the four years the competition has been running) and it has brought a lot of exciting and successful businesses to our attention.

"We are looking forward to seeing the presentations."

They will answer questions at the Evening Mail's office in Barrow.