MIDLAND Communications is in the running for a national business award after being named on a shortlist of six for the final at the Millennium Dome.

The Upton-based company was nominated through the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter for the We're in Business awards.

The awards are supported by the Corporation of London and are part of the Millennium Experience National Pro-gramme.

They are designed to reward socially responsible companies which provide a quality service for their local community while also being good employers.

Midland Communications, in Orchard Works, was founded 27 years ago by Keith Davies and supplies video conferencing and intercom systems to a wide range of customers. They include No Panic, a nationwide charity for agoraphobics, Dublin University and hospitals all over the country.

"I think the success behind Midland Communications is being able to provide technology that gives people extra time to do what they want and a system that is environmentally sound," said Mr Davies.

"Using video conferencing means that people no longer need to use their car to travel to a business meeting - it can be done in the comfort of their own office."

The firm has been nominated because of its "valuable contribution" and "helpful" service in the telecommunications industry.

It also donates its used paper to St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School. The contributions account for 80 per cent of the school's recycling income.

The final is at the Dome next Friday (November 24) and the first prize is a free Communications Toolkit from Shandwick International Public Relations.

Sharon Grey, head of economic development at Malvern Hills District Council, said it was tremendous news for the district as a whole.

"We are trying to promote ourselves as an area which has real strength in high tech and anything like this which gets this message out is really good," she said.

The company won an MHDC Platinum Award for business in the service section earlier this year.