ONCE again it's raining awards for a Warrington filter manufacturer and supplier which has been voted the best small business in the north west.

More than 400 emerging enterprises were vying for the Parcelforce-backed prize but Croft Engineering Services won out.

The 17-year-old company, formed by brothers Neil and Mark Burns, received prizes totalling £6,000 and they will now go forward to the national finals in London in October.

Neil said: "We're absolutely delighted - it's fantastic and reflects the contributions made by every member of staff."

Based at Beech Court, Taylor Business Park, Risley, the firm now employs 22 people and is a previous Guardian business award winner.

Dave Humphries, regional operations performance manager for award sponsors Parcelforce, says that Croft was a "worthy winner."

He added: "The judges considered Croft to be an excellent business with a solid financial base, an eye on the future, good relationships with customers and employees, combined with dedication and a determination to succeed."

Officials from John Moores University, in Liverpool, singled out the contribution of one of their graduates, Karen Austin, who devised a number of new management policies and information systems to increase efficiency.

The BSc honours business information systems student drafted a successful Smart grant application to the DTI which netted the firm £50,000.

Her contribution to the regional business award campaign has also been lauded.

Added Neil: "Karen has become a valued member of our workforce and input into the presentation, given to the business award judging panel, is what we believe distinguished us as clear winners."

Karen was supervised during her first 12 months by Jim Sheehan, from the university's business information school.