Twelve local business leaders have been lauded at this year's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, co-organised by the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) and the Rotary Club of Singapore.

Of these, three bagged the Young Entrepreneur Award, a new accolade set up this year to recognise the efforts of young and aspiring entrepreneurs. It honours those whose companies have been in business from two to seven years.

The Young Entrepreneur Award winners were Mr Neeraj Sundarajoo, chief executive officer of digital media agency Comwerks; Mr Patrick Goh, co-founder of soft furnishings company Intero Enterprise; and Dr Sky Tan, chief executive of design firm Sky Creation.

Nine others clinched awards in the Established Entrepreneur Category. Local catering firm Rasel Catering Singapore took two honours, for managing director Alan Tan and creative director Chris Loh respectively.

The other seven winners were: Mr Kim Wah Boon, managing director of Dickson Auto; Mr Brian Seow, MD of interior design company L&Rui Concept, Ms Sally Chua, MD of Q'Son Kitchen Equipment; Mr Winston Chia, MD of furniture and interior design firm Serrano Holdings; Mr Albert Oon, MD of Shun Zhou Hardware; Mr Sun Lai Fong, chairman of Sunhuan Construction and Ms Jacqueline Lim, MD of waste management company Tai Hing.

An overall winner from the 12 will be selected and announced at a ceremony in December.