EIGHT business owners are in the running for the Entrepreneurs' Forum Awards 2014 that celebrate the cream of North-East entrepreneurial talent.

The finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year are:

Andrew Esson, of Quick Hydraulics of North Shields; Ian Watson, of Hadrian Healthcare; Dean Benson, of Visualsoft, the Stockton-based eCommerce provider; and Bryan Bunn, of engineering consultants Nortech Solutions.

The finalists for Emerging Talent, are:

David Lynch, of Sunderland-based Lynch Healthcare; Charlotte Prenelle, of Pranella, a jewellery and accessories business based in Gosforth; Alice Blackie, of Pink Boutique, an online fashion retailer which sells internationally from its Newcastle base; and Martyn Young, founder of First2Print, a specialist printer based in Sunderland.

There is also a Lifetime Achievement category.

The awards will be presented at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel on Friday, September 19.

To book places contact the Forum on 0191 500 7780, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net or email info@entrepreneursfourm.net