Shortlist is revealed for The Yorkshire Post's Excellence in Business Awards

The awards recognise and celebrate the inspirational business people who are bringing jobs and investment to our region during a period of uncertainty.

The awards shine the spotlight on the region’s brightest, bravest and best performing companies.

In a year that has presented every single person in Yorkshire with significant challenges, the awards will honour the firms which have weathered the storm the best, not just in terms of performance but also how they looked out for clients, customers and staff.

The awards will take place on Wednesday November 4 through a digitally streamed event.

They will be presented by a top class media personality and celebrate the best of Yorkshire commerce.

Despite the pandemic, this year’s awards attracted more than 180 high quality entries from across the county.

The shortlist was drawn up over a four hour judging session, which was chaired by Greg Wright, The Yorkshire Post’s deputy business editor.

Speaking after the awards judging session, Mr Wright said. “We are absolutely delighted to reveal the shortlist for this year’s Excellence in Business Awards.

“The awards ceremony has become one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the region’s corporate calendar.

“The wonderful, dynamic enterprising companies that have earned a place on the shortlist prove that our region is the best place in Britain to do business.

“The judging panel was particularly impressed with the large number of companies who have gone out of their way to protect and support the local community during the pandemic.

“It is more important than ever that we focus on our region’s deep-rooted commitment to enterprise and innovation.

“We are immensely grateful to our wonderful sponsors who have worked so hard to ensure we can deliver the awards during such difficult times."

“We can’t wait to reveal the winners at the glittering ceremony next month.”

Headline sponsorship this year comes from Addleshaw Goddard, Grant Thornton and Virgin Money.

Associate sponsorship comes from Ernest Wilson and Openreach.

Simon Kamstra, Head of Addleshaw Goddard’s Leeds office, said: “Yorkshire is home to a huge number of the country’s most successful, high performing businesses, so we are thrilled to be sponsoring this year’s Yorkshire Post Business Excellence Awards and providing these companies with the profile and recognition they deserve.”

Dan Rosinke, Partner at Grant Thornton, said: “As we emerge from a period of incredible challenge and disruption, there has possibly never been a more important time to celebrate and recognise the enterprise, creativity, endeavour and resilience of the Yorkshire business community.

“Grant Thornton is incredibly proud to be a part of this ever- evolving and diverse community and once again sponsor the Yorkshire Post awards, which is always an outstanding showcase for the best of our region’s companies and management teams.”

Here is the shortlist:

Apprenticeship

Resolve IT Solutions Ltd

Mansfield Pollard

Conservatory Outlet

Airedale International

Business Leader of the Year

David Bentley – Solutionize Global

Dawn Carney – Fresh Pastures & School Milk

Paula Broadbent

Mark Kirkup

Commercial Development of the Year

Muse Developments

Allenby Commercial – Paragon Arcade

Extra MSA

Companies with a turnover over £50m

Airedale International

Total UK- Lubricants Division

Thornton & Ross

Companies with a turnover up to £10m

The Data Shed

Rota Cloud

Sniffers Pet Care

Titus

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

Elmhurst

Companies with turnover between £10m & £50m

Bluetree Group

Mansfield Pollard

Widd Signs

Solutionize Global

Roberts Mart Ltd

Skills Network

Entrepreneur

Adam Hildreth

Charles Draper

Grant Nicholson

Seb Francis

Harry Bliss

Exporter

Crisp

Balmoral Tanks

Airedale International

Manufacturer of the Year

Mansfield Pollard

Airedale International

Thornton & Ross

Roberts Mart Ltd.

Outstanding Employer

One Medical

Tong Garden Centre

Mechanical Facilities

Social Mobility

Thrive Law

Exa Networks

Technology & Digital award

BigChange

Radar Healthcare

Smart Search

Exa Networks

Young Business of the Year

Planet U Energy

Spirit of Yorkshire

Yorkshire Lamb Orphanage

Innovation

EthOss Regeneration Ltd.

Avacta

Exa networks

MerlinSoft

Anthropods & Co Ltd.

Glow

Community Award

For Entrepreneurs Only

Hope Park Business Centres

Approved Food

Fresh Pastures & School Milk

Rural Awards

Econ Engineering Ltd

Wold Top Brewery

York Handmade Brick Company

I’Anson BrothersLtd.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson