DODSWORTH, the plant display firm based near Boroughbridge, is a hardy contender for victory in the prestigious National Business Awards - described by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown as the "Business Oscars".

The firm, with ten years of zero staff turnover, won last year's Progress Through People award in the Evening Press Business of the Year competition.

Now, as regional finalists in the Outstanding People Development category of the national business awards, the seven-person team, headed by husband and wife Julie and Simon Dodsworth, is living proof that a business can commit to developing their staff in the shadow of much larger organisations.

Based at the Smithy in Cundall, Dodsworth provides living plant displays for companies as varied as the Football Premiership, Nestl UK and the BBC.

Along with the other northern contenders, Telewest, 2Touch and Arriva Trains Northern, it will take part in the northern final at the Palace Hotel, Manchester on July 15. The winner will go on to the national final at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, on November 9.

"We are passionate about staff care," said Julie who is also a regional finalist in the awards' Bright Business of the Year category.

"The people who work with me are extremely valued and important - we are all on the frontline. We are all ambassadors for Dodsworth."

Every staff member is offered training up to NVQ 3 level in general horticulture and NVQ 2 in customer care.

Updated: 09:48 Friday, July 02, 2004