THE Yorkshire Post today launches its Excellence in Business Awards 2008, to celebrate the companies that have helped to make this region the most enterprising in the country.
The awards are open to firms of every size and reflect the vast range of entrepreneurial talent in our region - including start-ups, multi-nationals, university spin-outs and massive commercial projects.
Supported by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, Yorkshire Bank, accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and legal firm DLA Piper, the awards will culminate in a glittering black tie dinner in Leeds on Friday October 17.
The 10 awards will highlight the success stories that exist at every level of business. They will showcase the entrepreneurship, innovation and energy that keeps driving business forward 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 Year, for the best new product or service. Yorkshire and Humber’s universities have a great reputation for enterprise and we are looking to celebrate 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, which will be presented to a charismatic entrepreneur.
Yorkshire Post Editor Peter Charlton said: “These awards reflect the variety and excellence of the region's businesses. Yorkshire has some wonderful success stories and, as the region's number one business media, we want to bang the drum to show just how much good work is being done here.
“Yorkshire reflects the country as a whole and the credit crunch may be causing some companies a short-term discomfort, others, like those in manufacturing, are currently taking advantage of the exchange rate to boost exports. We have the biggest legal and financial centre outside London and some of the deals completed here compare favourably with any across the country.
“These awards are unique because they appeal to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and are backed by some of the region's top brands.”
We know that time is precious in business, so we have made sure that entering the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards could not be easier.
Please complete the form in full below
There is a separate entry process for the Best Company To Work For category, which will be judged by experts from Bradford University School of Management. To enter this category please go to the School of Management website and fill in the online questionnaire.
For all categories, entries must be submitted by 30 June 2008.