EIGHT winners have been chosen as the cream of the area in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Awards 2002.

And Blackburn-based company Promethean -- at the forefront of an international high-tech classroom revolution with its educational interactive whiteboards -- won the top prize.

It was named Company of the Year at the exciting finale to East Lancashire's premier business event of the year.

Donna Shaw, Promethean's marketing manager, collected the award along with a £3000 cheque, from Brenda Rudge, Managing Director of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, at the glittering ceremony at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors.

She received the award on behalf of senior management, who were in Atlanta supervising a bid to break into the US market.

Runner-up was Formfill, a Blackburn company that has emerged as a world leader in e-business software, and in third place was high-tech engineering company, Brookhouse Composites, of Darwen.

Kevin Young, Editor of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, said the Business Awards 2002 had attracted a record number of entries.

"The judging panel was overwhelmed by both the volume and the quality of the entries," he said. "Deciding on a shortlist for each of the eight categories was difficult enough, but to come up with an overall winner was near impossible. Promethean, however, just edged the decision with its highly-professional and innovative approach to every aspect of its business."

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Awards 2002 were sponsored by Business Link East Lancashire, the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council, the University of Central Lancashire and Peter Jackson the Jeweller, attracted a record number of entries.

The New Business of the Year category was won by Farmhouse Fare, of Gisburn, which makes traditional hand-made puddings. The company has had phenomenal success since it was set up in October last year and now supplies major supermarket chains.

Promethean had double cause for celebration when it collected the Marketing Award for its international strategy.

The Innovation and Design Award was collected by Rawtenstall-based Lammtara Multiserve, one of Europe's leading communications companies, working for clients such as Vodaphone, Virgin Music, Orange, BP and Volkswagen.

A commitment to training its staff in environmentally-friendly techniques helped Blackburn-based Neales Waste Management to take away the Workforce Development Award. The Customer Service Award, which attracted the highest number of entries, was taken by Great Harwood Windows Ltd, of Blackburn, which is successfully competing against its big-spending rivals with a strong commitment to put the client first.

Keys Childcare Ltd, a Rawtenstall business dedicated to helping traumatised youngsters recover from their early experiences, was the winner of the Special Award. The company operates six homes where 85 staff look after just 22 children.

The Personal Achievement Award went to Diann Judith Webster who saved Barnfold Cottage Residential Home, Oswaldtwistle, from closure.

The main speaker for the night was Rawtenstall-born Professor Christopher Holland from Manchester Business School and master of ceremonies was Shaun Price.