The Premium Roll Company, set up at Bilston Glen Industrial Estate at Loanhead by the former boss of Ford's the Bakers with assistance from Business Gateway, was named Best Start-up at the Chamber's 2008 business awards and enterprise evening.

Other Midlothian winners at the packed event at Queen Margaret University's new campus, in Musselburgh, were:

Business Environment Award – EAE Distribution, Loanhead

Best Graduate – Chris Bruce, Sunnyside Projects, Newbattle Abbey College Business Park

Social Enterprise Award – Midlothian Advice and Resource Centre, Dalkeith

Local Heroes – Dr Jacqueline McDonnell, Friends of Midlothian's Children; Archie Patterson, Midlothian Innovation Centre, Pentlandfield.

More than 250 people attended the event which was sponsored by Jewel & Esk College, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Springfords Accountants and QMU.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gregor Murray urged the business community to "think positive".

Much media coverage of the economy was negative "and there is a danger that we make the outlook worse by overdoing the gloom," he said.

He told his audience: "These organisations and individuals have shown outstanding initiative, determination and drive. They are excellent examples of the kind of businesses of all sizes which are helping drive the economy of Midlothian and East Lothian forward."

For the first time the county's unsung business heroes and heroines were honoured at the annual ceremony with a celebration of the achievements of staff and management behind the scenes.