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The runners and riders for the 2015 Birmingham Young Professional of the Year competition have been unveiled ahead of their grilling by judges today.

A total of 18 professionals from Birmingham's business community have been shortlisted with a further three young people, aged 16 to 24 and still in education, nominated for the aspiring talent category.

An overall winner will be chosen from the six category champions to be crowned BYPY 2015.

All candidates must be under the age of 35 on May 14, 2015, the date of this year's awards which takes place at the ICC.

The 2015 judging panel is headed up Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe who will be joined BPS Birmingham chairman Alex Bishop and Michael Shepherd, chairman of awards organiser BPS Birmingham Future, among others.

Sam Pennell, BYPY committee chair and managing director of espi PR & Events, said: "Over the last 15 years, BYPY has been dedicated to celebrating some of the best professional talent Birmingham has to offer.

"2015 marks a huge year, not only for the awards themselves, and we're confident that these finalists represent the business leaders of tomorrow who'll help to continue to shape Birmingham's ever evolving landscape."

The full shortlist is: