THE STAR SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS: Photos of our 30 shortlisted firms

They are the elite few shortlisted in our Small Business Awards, sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants, law firm Lupton Fawcett, MK Public Relations and Azzure IT.

Three entrants in each of 10 categories will find out whether they are successful at a ceremony at Virgin Money Lounge, on Thursday July 19

But first let’s revel in their brilliance.

NEW BUSINESS

Unwrapped Ltd - New shop with zero packaging. Allows customers to buy exactly they want, cutting down on waste.

Marsh Valley Goats Milk - Jess Cutler and Sam Marshall run a post office but keep goats and dream of a business selling goats’ milk soap.

Ella Woodhouse - Degree trained, world travelled mens’ suitmaker with experience of working for the movies including Kingsman and Fantastic Beasts. Bespoke suits £950 and up.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Platts and Nisbett - Hand-crafted surgical instruments loved by surgeons. Apprenticeships last five years.

ITM Power - Hydrogen specialist on the brink of moving to massive premises in Rotherham. Olivia Rudge is a young apprentice learning hi-tech career.

Health Imaging Solutions - New firm exploiting a clever niche in repairing and storing hospital scanners. Setting up its own academy for apprentices.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Kollider - Transforming the old Co-op on Angel Street into a tech hub for hundreds of firms. Has signed Barclays Eagle Labs and National Videogame Arcade.

Gradconsult - Has run the RISE programme for six years, recruits, trains and places 80 graduates a year with SMEs.

Rebmark - Legal tech firm revolutionising and digitising the personal injury costs market. Bought by US giant Verisk in November.

INNOVATION

Preventx - Small health screening firm landed a £200m contract to health screen Londoners by post.

Pictorial Meadows - Wildflower firm bringing science and expertise to planting beautiful blooms in towns and cities which last.

Idaq - Free wireless internet in the city centre thanks to network of transmitters and link up with Sheffield City Council.

CUSTOMER SERVICES

Select Convenience - Young manager Matt Hutchinson promoting more than 30 Sheffield food producers at this Bents Green shop.

Summitglow - Crucial link in the manufacturing chain for firms such as Gripple. Huge responsibility not to ruin very expensive parts.

Green Origins - Superfood distributor. Two-time Queen’s Award for Enterprise winner, for exporting.

FAMILY BUSINESS

Brass Founders - Keeping the tradition of working with this beautiful metal alive. The firm that has given Sheffield bollards, benches, walk of fame plaques and pebbles.

Industrial Design Co - Brother and sister and friend set up this cool furniture store in Woodseats. Sell bespoke products made by local craftspeople.

Maxons - Traditional boiled sweet maker reinventing itself with super-sour headsplitters and energy gels for athletes.

MANUFACTURING

Webster Technologies - The firm makes the famous Rockwheel cutting attachment with chews up concrete with ease. It has recently invested for growth.

Magnomatics - Makes magnet-powered gears with two parts that don’t touch. Worldwide interest from several sectors.

VK Drums - Alan van Kleef hand makes drums from steel, copper, silver and gold. Huge demand from professionals and enthusiasts.

CHARITY/CSR

Real Junk Food Project - turns five tonnes-a-month of surplus food into meals at ‘pay-as-you-feel’ cafes.

The Suit Works - Vanda Kewley runs a free suit and makeover business for unemployed men preparing for a job interview.

Sheffield Precision Medical - Surgical tools company that funds ‘Mercy Ships’ - floating hospitals that visit African countries.

TECHNOLOGY

Whitespace - Using redundant television frequencies to beam superfast broadband to rural residents. Could work worldwide.

Ioetec - Won a prestigious contract with GCHQ to work on national cyber-security.

TribePad - Fields 35m applications online and on mobile for the likes of Tesco, the Church of England and Warner Bros.

PERSONALITY

Louisa Harrison-Walker - Successful boss of Benchmark Recruit and chair of Sheffield Chamber Council. The friendly face of Sheffield business at the impressive number of events she attends.

Megan Abel - Confident and ambitious 14 times world martial arts champion and boss of Sheffield martial arts school Utopia - and she’s still only 20. Has increased the number of classes to meet demand.

William Chew

Dynamic founder of Mak Tok Malaysian chilli paste which employs seven. Former Sheffield University student has a strong business and is instantly recognisable.