NORTHEN BUSINESS: Five companies in Northern Ireland have been named in the Queen's Award for Enterprise which honours outstanding achievement in international trade, innovation and sustainable development.

Responding to the awards given to Grafton Recruitment, Humax Electronics, Norbrook Laboratories, Nortel Networks and Schrader Electronics,

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said yesterday they were "role models for other progressive businesses". The firms were among 131 listed from across the UK.

Sir Reg said more needed to follow their example for Northern Ireland to become a "hotspot" of business enterprise. "My department and Invest Northern Ireland will seek to promote the creativity and ingenuity needed to generate greater wealth and high quality employment opportunities within an enterprise-driven economy," added the Minister.

Róisín Ingle