Five Bradford companies have been shortlisted for one of the region's top business awards.

The first ever Biz Awards, set up to honour firms from disadvantaged backgrounds, will take place later this month.

Zouk Tea Bar and Grill, Gumption Business Centre, Unique Home Care, Urban Biz and Addingham Logistics have all been given the nod.

The awards have been created by some of Yorkshire's top business people, including Yorkshire Forward, Business Link, Bradford Chamber, the Princes Trust and Business Link to honour companies which have succeeded against the odds.

The winners will be unveiled in front of 500 people at a glittering ceremony at Leeds' Royal Armouries on June 29.

The Biz Awards finalists have all demonstrated to judges how they overcome odds such as being turned down by high street banks, fought particular skills deficits to achieve their goals and made a success of their own companies with little or no assistance from outside forces.

Peter Bashir, proprietor of Zouk Tea Bar and Grill, said: "We are absolutely over the moon to be shortlisted.

"We have been nominated for a few awards so far and won a couple too.

"We are quietly confident we can scoop the award."

Zouk has been shortlisted in the Fastest Growing Business category. Also in line for an award is city centre business incubator and networking centre Gumption, logistics business, which gets its official launch on Friday.

Gumption has been given the nod in the Best New Start category alongside Addingham Logistics.

Elsewhere Urban Biz, which helps African and Caribbean social enterprises recruit staff, is in the running for the Best Social Enterprise gong.

Stephen Waud, fund director at the Business Enterprise Fund, charged with delivering £2 million worth of funding to disadvantaged businesses each year, said: "We are celebrating the enterprising spirit here which is alive and kicking.

"The Yorkshire region is pioneering support for businesses particularly through schemes like the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI), and these awards recognise the hard work and determination they display.

"We are delighted at the calibre, diversity and volume of entries to these awards and congratulate all those who entered and have started their own enterprises - shortlisted or not."