Chancellor to be keynote speaker at leading awards

George Osborne is likely to deliver an update on plans to tackle Britain's 156bn deficit and how the government can help encourage economic growth in the private sector.

Peter Charlton, Editor of the Yorkshire Post, said: "I'm delighted that the Chancellor has accepted our invitation to address an audience of Yorkshire's leading industrialists at the region's most prestigious business awards ceremony."

Past speakers include David Cameron, William Hague, Ed Balls and Alan Johnson.

The main categories are Young Business of the Year, sponsored by Yorkshire Forward; Companies with a turnover under 10m, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank; Companies with a turnover between 10m and 50m, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers; and Companies with a turnover of more than 50m, sponsored by DLA Piper.

Site visits for these categories will take place before the end of July.

The other categories are Best Company to Work For, sponsored by the Bradford University School of Management; YP Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by O2; SME Manufacturer of the Year category, sponsored by the government-funded Manufacturing Advisory Service; Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Drax; and Exporter of the Year, sponsored by thebigwordGroup.

This year's judging panel includes Sir Ken Morrison, one of Britain's most successful businessmen, and Paul Fullerton, the Bank of England's agent for Yorkshire and Humber.

Companies have until June 22 to enter the fifth annual awards.

To enter, visit www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/excellence