A HR & development manager at James & Jenkins Garages, Cardiff, has been named a finalist in the 2009 Leading Wales Awards, which seek to recognise and celebrate outstanding leaders across Wales.

Catherine James is one of three finalists in the Businesses with fewer than 250 employees category, sponsored by the Chartered Management Institute.

James' leadership skills have been recognised for her work with employees at the Llandaff North-based car dealership where she has recently created and delivered a series of training programmes.

Training initiatives, which saw staff at the family-owned business participate in multi-level management and workforce training initiatives, began with James encouraging the workforce to take the lead in organising social and team building activities for themselves, including participation in charitable events such as the George Thomas Hospice-organised “It’s a knockout” and Race for Life.