CHARLES Morgan, managing director of the Morgan Motor Company, in Malvern, has been short-listed in the regional finals of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

The international awards programme, founded by Ernst & Young in USA in 1986, is now in its sixth year in the UK and recognises and celebrates the achievements of entrepreneurs who have grown innovative and successful businesses.

The Central Region finalists will be interviewed by an expert panel of judges, led by chairman Steve Smith, founder of Poundland.

The winners will be announced at an awards banquet at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, on Thursday, July 8, and will then go forward to the national finals in London, in October.

Andrew Jupp, regional head of the entrepreneurial growth markets team at Ernst & Young, said the calibre of entrants had been "exceptional" this year.

"This is testament to the wealth of talent and enterprise in the region," he said.