THIRTEEN firms will find out on Thursday how they fared in the contest to become Medway's top small business.

Thousands of pounds will be at stake at Gillingham Golf Club on a night of awards and music.

The 18th annual Medway Small Business Awards will showcase the very best of local business, showing just how great Medway is for successful enterprise.

The finalists span all sectors from manufacturing to services.

They include Arethusa Venture Centre, a charitable adventure complex for young people at Upnor, a scaffolding company (Zendrill), a sandwich maker (Wholemeal Sandwich Company) and a company that brings a breath of fresh humidified air into buildings (Humi-Tech Services).

The finalists have won through after months of competition between nearly 50 entries.

For the past 18 years, the awards, pioneered by Medway Today newspaper and now also sponsored by Lloyds TSB Bank, Medway council, the University of Kent and Medway, Medway Chamber of Commerce, Reeves and Neylan and Business Link Kent, have rewarded the cream of the cream.

The 2002 presentation ceremony will be bigger and better than ever. Following a dinner, the speaker will be Professor Richard Scase, popular business forecaster at the University of Kent at Canterbury.