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The finalists for this year’s Yorkshire Post Business Awards can be revealed – with local micro-businesses and family firms all the way to household names like Morrisons and Jet2 among those in the running.
Hundreds of entries were received across the different categories, with shortlists agreed following an intensive judging process by well-known experts from across the Yorkshire business community.
Jet2 are in the running for the Large Business of the Year, while the incredibly strong Charitable Business category includes the likes of Morrisons, KCOM and Leeds Building Society.
Winners will be announced at a black-tie event in Leeds on November 11, with the ceremony taking place at New Dock Hall.
A special lifetime achievement award will also be handed out on the night.
Chris Burn, head of business and features for The Yorkshire Post, said: “It was a privilege to see the care, thought and consideration our judges put into selecting this year’s shortlists.
"They had an incredibly tough task on their hands thanks to the excellent standard of entries we received so to get a nomination is a huge achievement in itself.
"The judging process was an inspiring reminder of the fantastic work being done by Yorkshire businesses in all sorts of different fields and the night itself will be a wonderful celebration of those achievements.
"The sheer variety of businesses involved is testament to what the region has to offer.”
The expert team of judges involved in assessing entries this year included Dame Linda Pollard, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s event.
Dame Linda’s varied career saw her found two companies, chair organisations promoting the role of women in business and hold a variety of senior roles across the private, public and third sectors - including at Yorkshire Forward, Leeds University, Coutts Bank and as Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Other judges included Sharon Watson, CEO and principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, commercial real estate expert Jeff Pearey and Emma Pearmaine, managing director of Ridley and Hall Solicitors.
James Ashton, outgoing chief executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance, was another judge, as was Tariq Shah OBE, CEO of Vigo Group, and entrepreneur and business leader Nikki Guest.
Leading Yorkshire dealmaker Jonathan Jones, a senior partner on special projects for Squire Patton Boggs, was also on the panel.
Sponsors and partners for this year’s event include the Business Enterprise Fund, Cooper Parry, Data Connect and Saffery, as well as Hall Brown Family Law, Aphasia Support, Uyare and Impulse Decisions.
Mr Burn said: “We were thrilled to put together such a fantastic team of judges and my sincere thanks goes to them for giving up their time and expertise for this event. It is hugely appreciated.
"Thanks also go to our sponsors and partners for making the event possible.
"The high quality of judges, sponsors, partners and nominees is a testament to what these awards mean and go to demonstrate the power of the Yorkshire business community we are all proud to be part of. It promises to be a fantastic night and I’m looking forward to meeting as many people there as possible.”
FULL SHORTLIST
Best Business Startup sponsored by Business Enterprise Fund: Elethea Studios; Ltt Group Limited; STG Advisory; The Innate Coach; The Puzzling World Of Professor Kettlestring.
Charitable Business Award: Blend Culinary Foundation - Blend Family; Hawkesworth Safe Homes Initiative; KCOM; Leeds Building Society; Morrisons; Perform Partners supporting Leeds Mind.
Employee Health & Wellbeing Award: Abraham Moon & Sons; Concrete Youth; IDR Law; JTM Service; Next Door But One; Schofield Sweeney LLP.
Hospitality Business of the Year: CrowdedHouse; Fat Badger Group; Fogo de Chão Leeds (formerly Fazenda); No. 1 York by GuestHouse; Tharavadu; Three's A Crowd Harrogate.
Innovation Award: Aegis Energy; Essential Healthcare Solutions; Nuumad; Rallye Digital (Portfolio Display LTD); The Stitch Company Keighley; What Would A Judge Say?
Manufacturing Award sponsored by Data Connect: Abraham Moon & Sons; Cryer & Stott Cheesemongers; Redtronic; SoluPak; Tadweld.
Sustainability Award: Aegis Energy; Bridlington Animal Park; Ltt Group; Sandal Group; Soanes Poultry.
Technology & Digital Award: CoolCare; G&T (Girls and Tech); Roche Legal; School Estates Thought Leaders (SETL); What Would A Judge Say?
Fast Growing Business: Clearpoint Recycling; Flair Furniture; Innovex Group; Sam Teale Productions; Torque Law LLP; Vidrate.
Exporter of the Year: Burgess Pet Care; Clearpoint Recycling; Collett & Sons; Stoelzle Flaconnage
Best Family Business: Allenby Commercial; Collett & Sons; The Ice Co; William Jackson Food Group; Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil.
Best Micro Business (up to 10 employees): Another Concept; Ben Ellis Pastry Chef & Chocolatier; Blossom Tree Social; DISH Hospitality; Ideal Extraction; Ltt Group; SIS Ltd; The Rocking Horse Shop.
Small Business of the Year (11-50 employees): Childerstone Project Management; Little Years Nursery; Monarch Mobility; OLS Ltd; Torque Law LLP; White Stork Nursery; Zebra Print Group.
Medium Business of the Year (51-250 employees) sponsored by Saffery: Collett & Sons; Drewtons Farm Shop; Newett Homes; PPS; STRI Group; The Ice Co; Tiger Sheds; Trust Electric Heating
Large Business of the Year (251+ employees) sponsored by Cooper Parry: Active Security Solutions North Yorkshire; Fat Badger Group; FMG; HSL Chairs; Jet2.
Young Business Leader (aged under 35): Ben Waters, HSL Chairs; Daniel Swift MBE, Concrete Youth; Georgie Lynskey, G&T (Girls and Tech!); Lucy Henn, KCOM; Nathan Chapman, Ray Chapman Motors; Verity Fox, Dominion.
Business Leader of the Year (aged 35+): Andrew Pawson, Continuum Attractions; Gillian Short, Flourish Healthcare & Support; Mark Garrett, Clearpoint Recycling; Martin Sampson, Monarch Mobility; Natalie Bishop, Little Years Nursery; Paul Wood, JTM Service Ltd.
Lifetime Achievement Award: To be announced on the night