A start up recruitment firm, a business that produces Sri Lankan sauces and an event management company that specialises in bringing academics and businesses together have all been chosen as winners of the Local Business Accelerators 2011 competition.

The three winners were chosen by a panel of industry experts and senior figures from BPM Media and will all now receive a series of mentoring sessions and £11,000 worth of advertising in the Birmingham Post.

The winning companies were recruitment firm Alexander Daniels, Asiri Foods and Science Capital.

Baskerville House-based Alexander Daniels were launched 18 months ago and has already grown to 14 staff and a turnover of more than £1 million. (alexanderdaniels.co.uk)

Asiri Foods is the brainchild of Asiri Hall, from Malvern. The firm makes Sri Lankan-influenced curry sauces and chutneys and has already secured orders from Waitrose. (www.asirifoods.co.uk)

Science Capital is a social enterprise which has run seven events so far and brings together scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, legal and business experts with a view to bridging the gap between industry and academia. (www.sciencecapital.co.uk)

The winners were chosen after presenting to a panel that included Birmingham Post editor Alun Thorne, BPM Media advertising director Tracy Colley, Aston Reinvestment Trust chief executive Dr Steve Walker, CBI regional director Richard Butler and Jenny Stokes from Bournville College, all of whom were impressed with the standard of entries for the competition.

Dr Walker said: “I was delighted to see the enthusiasm and pride in their enterprises shown during the competition presentations.

"The spirit of entrepreneurship was much to the fore, but it was also clear that many of the entrants recognised the need for marketing, business and mentoring support to achieve their growth plans.”

Ms Stokes said: “The calibre of the businesses entering was impressive and there were some fantastic business ideas at different stages of development.