A WORCESTER-based energy company is a finalist in a prestigious national awards scheme.

BizzEnergy is a finalist in the Growth Strategy of the Year category in the National Business Awards.

The Warndon-based company was founded in 2000 to provide web-enabled energy solutions exclusively for the business and commercial sector in Britain and Europe.

It employs 40 people at its Berkley Business Park offices and is one of five finalists for the Growth Strategy of the Year award, sponsored by Navision and Microsoft Business Solutions.

The award recognises the organisation that best demonstrates how an organic growth strategy has achieved outstanding levels of sales, profit and market share improvement.

The other finalists for the national award are Alternative Networks Limited, Telecom One Limited, Betfair.com and software company KWI.

"We're delighted to achieve this recognition in The National Business awards," said Suzanne Chambers, BizzEnergy's director of marketing.

"It's a testament to our high-calibre and extremely committed staff that we've achieved, and are able to clearly demonstrate, such an impressive record of organic growth."

She said a lean business structure and innovative technology, backed by industry-leading service standards, allowed BizzEnergy to deliver superior customer satisfaction at lower cost.

An innovative website, incorporating a sophisticated electricity pricing engine, allows potential business energy customers to obtain free on-line quotations within five minutes.

Current annual turnover exceeds £50m and sales are expected to rise to an estimated £80m in 2002. On current plans, revenue could reach £200m in the year ending March 2003.

The company is chaired by former Eastern Electricity executive chairman, John Devaney, and former government energy advisor, Eddie Hyams, is chief executive.

The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, are designed to recognise and promote excellence, best practice and innovation in the UK business community.