To prevail on environmental grounds the three finalists must convince the judges they have done most to minimise their environmental impact. Alternatively, or additionally, they must demonstrate a deep commitment to the community in which they operate. Co

To prevail on environmental grounds the three finalists must convince the judges they have done most to minimise their environmental impact. Alternatively, or additionally, they must demonstrate a deep commitment to the community in which they operate.

Contesting the final are a St Ives business coach, a Godmanchester insurance broker, both with strong charitable credentials, and Cambridgeshire Trading Standards, with an innovative scheme to counter under-age drinking in St Neots that is now being rolled out nationally.

Mike Yates is managing director of 121 Business Limited in St Ives. He works with small companies, many of them very small, helping them improve their business opportunities, often by encouraging them to think more objectively about their own firms.

But is his extensive charitable work with the Papworth Trust, Sue Ryder Care and British Heart Foundation that has attracted the judges' attention. He believes the business community can have massive impact on local social and community issues.

Rather than spend their Christmas bonuses on themselves last year, 60 staff at specialist motor insurance broker Sureterm Direct gave £6,000 to boost The Hunts Post's New Life Appeal for Hinchingbrooke Hospital's maternity services. The original intention had been to buy equipment for a tiny baby who receives life-saving treatment at the hospital to save him having to travel there so often.

But the sum they raised was far more than the kit cost, so they gave the balance to the New Life fund.

Trading Standards' Community Alcohol Partnership in St Neots brought together traders, residents, local authorities and emergency services to tackle the town's youth alcohol problems. It has almost wiped out instances of under-18s being found in possession of drink and has almost halved anti-social behaviour in the area. What's more, CAP has not displaced the problem to another location, as sceptics feared, and is now to be copied by other areas with the Home Office's endorsement.