Plastic roads firm MacRebur has beaten thousands of other UK companies to make the last ten of the Virgin Voom Impact award.
It is aimed at businesses that find a solution to a social or environmental need.
Furthermore, they are also in the final 20 of the Voom Start Up category for new businesses.
MacRebur co-director Toby McCartney, of Eaglesfield, was in London last week and again on Wednesday to pitch their idea to a judging panel.
And he goes to Birmingham next week for a further round of interviews.
Toby, 38, founded MacRebur earlier this year with friends Gordon Reid, 36, of Waterbeck, and Nick Burnett, 39, also of Eaglesfield.
And their innovative eco idea to mix waste plastics with bitumen caught the attention of the Virgin judges in a live televised pitchathon last week when the semi finalists were chosen.
The trio now hope they can get all the way to the final in London later this month and the chance to pitch to millionaire Richard Branson, model turned businesswoman Tyra Banks, Spanx founder Sara Blakely, vlogger Marcus Butler and Virgin Media Business boss Peter Kelly.
The ultimate prizes include a trip to Branson’s Necker Island, a share of £1 million and a package of business support.
Toby said: “The opportunity to go to Necker Island and meet Richard Branson to discuss how to run profitable sustainability businesses is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but we are just thrilled to be considered amongst this inspirational group of business men and women.”
He added: “Winning would be huge. We’ve only been going since January and we know we need the backing of someone like Virgin to guide our business and spread the word about our patented plastic roads.”
Gordon said: “The competition has really raised our profile and we’ve had a lot of interest nationally and even globally.”
Nick added: “We’re amazed at how far we’ve already got and hope we can go all the way.”
