FOUR Denbighshire-based firms have been shortlisted for the 2019 Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards.

Baa Stool in Denbigh and Ruth Lee Ltd. in Corwen are up for the International Business of the Year award, Animated Technologies of St Asaph has been shortlisted in the Micro Business of the Year category and RCS CIC of Rhyl are in the running for the Community Business of the Year award.

Creating stylish furniture using real British sheepskin, Baa Stool, is based on the Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh. It was set up in 2011 by Michelle Bartleet-Greavey, who, due to changes in her professional life, decided to realise a long held dream of being self-employed.

Ruth Lee Ltd is a family-run business based in Corwen which is on track to reach record sales approaching £3 million thanks to its exports. Set up in 1994, the company is now a world-leading provider of realistic manikins and training aids supplied to rescue experts worldwide.

"We are thrilled to be named as finalists in the International Business of the Year category as this recognises our considerable growth in international markets," Ruth Lee's managing director Paul McDonnell said. "We work with a fantastic network of distributors to supply manikins to countless rescue organisations world-wide and we are proud to be flying the flag for welsh businesses across the globe."

St. Asaph's Animated Technologies produce creative and professional animated videos. They also create social media animated ads, exhibition stand animated videos, printed materials and website landing pages for their clients.

RCS CIC is a Rhyl-based business which aims to champion wellness at work, reduce absence and drive health improvements by supporting companies and their employees to take a proactive approach to staff wellbeing.

The Wales awards final will be hosted by television news presenter Sian Lloyd at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff on March 22. Award category winners will go through to the UK final held in London in May.