Staff at the Watford-based National Lottery operator, Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, have been told “it could be you” after being shortlisted as a finalist in the 3i Private Business of the Year competition.

Camelot has had a very strong 18 months, delivering on its core objective “to maximise returns to Good Causes through selling lottery games in an efficient and socially responsible way”.

Nonetheless, a major programme of upgrades across its entire network, and innovations in both its Euromillions and Thunderball games, have helped it to achieve milestones in both sales and money raised for good causes – despite a decline in lotteries worldwide and a biting recession.

Camelot CEO Dianne Thompson said: “The trading period 2009/10 was, without doubt, an exceptional year for both Camelot and The National Lottery – a year in which Camelot delivered its second best ever sales performance and the highest annual returns to the Good Causes in a decade.

“The British public should be proud of its biggest and most innovative lottery. Winning this award would be tremendous for Camelot, but it would be tremendous for Camelot.”

Martin Pugh, Camelot’s Commercial Director, added that being selected as a finalist for Private Business of the Year was recognition in itself for its 760 staff after a year of commitment and hard work. “We celebrate our milestones internally, but this gives a huge confidence boost to our employees, and it means even more during challenging times when people have worked so hard and achieved so much,” he said.

The company, which was sold to Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan in March 2010, has its own dedicated regulator (the National Lottery Commission)and manages the lottery infrastructure which includes running a 28,500-strong retail network as well as the largest online lottery in the world.

A panel of expert judges will congregate at 30 St Mary’s Axe (The Gherkin) in London on October 9 to determine the overall winner of the 3i Private Business of the Year 2010.

The judges include Gordon Hague, Director, Growth Capital at 3i; Joe Morris, Operations Director at TJ Morris; Matthew Streets, CFO and Senior Partner at Foster & partners; and Chris Rowlands, who is conducting a government review into state funded capital for SMEs.