Deadline looms for Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards

The Yorkshire Post is searching for the brightest and the best businesses in the region for an annual celebration that attracts some of the biggest names in politics and industry.

The awards provide a platform for political heavyweights like Chancellor George Osborne and his counterpart Ed Balls to reach an audience of the region’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and their advisors.

There are 10 categories to enter: Companies with a turnover up to £10m, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank; Companies with a turnover between £10m and £50m, sponsored by PwC; Companies with a turnover above £50m, sponsored by DLA Piper; Young business, sponsored by Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses programme, for companies up to three years old; Outstanding employer, sponsored by Bradford University School of Management, for excellent employment practices; Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Drax, for companies that can demonstrate innovation in their approach to growth and development; Exporter of the Year, sponsored by thebigword, for companies that have made progress in overseas markets; Community, sponsored by QBE Insurance, for businesses actively working in the community to enhance education and skills development; SME Manufacturer, sponsored by Elevation Recruitment, for companies with a turnover up to £10m; and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, for owner managers and directors aged 35 and under.

There is also an Individual award, sponsored by The Yorkshire Post, which in the past has recognised leading figures such as retail giants Sir Ken Morrison and Sir Stuart Rose, RBS troubleshooter Stephen Hester and Yorkshire ice cream tycoon James Lambert.

The judging panel will be made up of representatives from main sponsors DLA Piper, the international law firm, PwC, the Big Four accountancy firm, and Yorkshire Bank.

The Bank of England will be represented by Juliette Healey, the regional agent.

The programme has become established as one of the most eagerly awaited and prestigious celebrations of enterprise in the North of England.

David Cameron spoke at the awards while Leader of the Opposition in 2008. Ed Balls appeared while Education Secretary in 2009. George Osborne attended the 2010 awards after becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The deadline is July 6. To enter, visit www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/awards