Mr Curry, who was also the MC at last year's awards, will share the stage with Conservative leader David Cameron, who is the keynote speaker.

The 2008 awards will celebrate all that is great about our business community. They are open to all firms – from start-ups and university spin-outs to massive commercial projects.

They are supported by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, Yorkshire Bank, accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and legal firm DLA Piper.

The 10 awards will highlight success stories and showcase the entrepreneurship, innovation and energy that drives business across the region.

Categories include Young Business of the Year for firms up to three years old.

There are three awards based on turnover: Companies with turnover up to £10m; those with a turnover between £10m and £50m; and for those with turnover above £50m. We will be rewarding the Innovation of the Year, as well as the region's best university spin-out company.

We will be awarding the coveted title of the region's Best Company to Work For and naming a commercial property project or investment which has done the most to transform or promote the region. There will also be a special Individual Award for Excellence. The awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony in Leeds on October 17. All firms have to do to enter is complete the online form at www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/excellence.

The Best Company to Work For category will be judged by experts from Bradford University School of Management.

To enter this category go to http://www.bradford.ac.uk/management and fill in the online questionnaire.

The closing date for all entries is June 30.