Entries open for the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards

The Excellence in Business Awards is a calendar highlight for Yorkshire, and has seen some of the biggest names in commerce come out as winners over the years.

To be in with a chance of winning, entries for this year’s awards need to be received by 5pm on September 3, 2021.

The prestigious awards are free to enter, and to make it as simple as possible there’s even a free online masterclass on how to craft an entry with award-winning potential, as the Yorkshire Post gets behind local businesses to help them shine.

Mark Casci, business editor of The Yorkshire Post, said: “The Excellence in Business Awards are the premier awards for the region. Having chaired the event for five years, I know only too well how much it means for firms and individuals to win one of these things. This past 16 months has been beyond challenging, but it is more important than ever to celebrate the world class achievements that this region is renowned for.”

The categories this year are:

Social Mobility Award

This category honours those companies who are creating as diverse a workforce as possible. We are looking here for the firm that really cares about all areas of their local community and is helping to represent that in its workforce. What are you doing to recruit, promote and train people from varying economic backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and ages? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?

The Best Business Transformation

This Award will be presented to a business that has pivoted most successfully during the crisis. The winner has adapted their business model, demonstrating flexibility, innovativeness, and nimbleness to keep afloat and place themselves at the centre of what its customers needed.

Commercial Development of the Year

We are searching for the development that truly stood out in 2020-21. Are you changing the game in the world of logistics, office space, retail or manufacturing? What makes what you do special, from architecture to functionality to sustainability? What makes your work stand out from the rest of the competition? Tell us about how you aided job creation, innovation and raised ambition. What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? All in 1000 words or less.

Employee Health and Well-being Award

Recognising businesses that have made a significant commitment to supporting employee health and well-being, taking specific action to safeguard both physical and mental health amongst staff.

Business Leader of the Year

Here we honour the boss who really stood out this year. Do you make a colossal difference to your business, staff and customers? Do you inspire others? Have you set out a vision and brought it to life? And have you brought staff along with it to make it a success? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? Let us know in 1,000 words.

Community Award

This award seeks to celebrate the firms that truly give back to their community. Are you an outstanding example of Corporate and Social Responsibility? Are you making genuine and tangible differences to your area? Does your presence make the region you operate in a better place? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? Tell us in 1,000 words or less.

Companies with a turnover of between £10 & £50 million

This award is focused on the mid-tier firms that power the local economy. It celebrates those who have made good investment and strategic plans. Are you a corporate titan of the future? How did you grow from being a small firm to where you are now, and what are your plans for the future? What were the key moves and achievements you made in 2019-20? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? Let us know in 1000 words or less why you should win.

Companies with a turnover of over £50 Million

This category honours and celebrates the commercial giants of the region. Are you a business operating on a vast scale, showing signs of expansion? Are you using research and innovation to achieve long-term growth plans? What were the key moves and achievements you made in 2019-20? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? Let us know in 1000 words or less why you should win

Companies with a turnover of up to £10 million

This award celebrates the large firms of the future. Have you achieved rapid and sustainable growth? Is what you do underpinned by product and service innovation? Are you creating jobs or changing the market? Tell us all of this and the story of how you created and grew your business. What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? Let us know in 1000 words or less why you should win.

Environmental Sustainability Award

As the UK economy moves towards zero emissions, we are looking for the Yorkshire firm that best demonstrates its commitment to the environment. Are you actively cutting emissions to zero or even capturing emissions? Are you altering your supply chain to best serve the environment? Are you modifying your products and services to reduce carbon? Let us know in 1000 words or less.

Entrepreneur

This award honours a rare individual who inspires others to greatness, and isn’t scared to take risks in pursuit of reward. Did you take an idea and transform it into a profitable, sustainable and transformative reality? Are you a leader in your field? Are you an example to those who want to start their own enterprise? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis? If so, let us know in 1000 words or less.

Exporter of the Year

The winner of this award is really helping to drive the export-led firm. Are you moving into new and lucrative overseas markets? Are you beating the competition in the process? Most importantly, what are you doing to take Yorkshire goods and services around the planet and increase the awareness of our region? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?

Innovation Award

This award is designed to shine a spotlight on the firms that are setting new standards and reshaping the corporate landscape. Tell us about the genuinely original and challenging ideas and how they were implemented to take your business forward. What are the details of how your firm innovated, as well as how it is changing your sector? Are you challenging your competitors as a result? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?

Manufacturer of the Year

The foundation stone of Yorkshire’s economy and home to thousands of jobs. Are you taking this sector towards a brighter tomorrow? Tell us about the innovative products and methods that are keeping the region’s heritage in this area alive. We want to hear all about the training, development and the targeting of new markets that you are implementing. What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?

Outstanding Employer

This award celebrates the employers who truly value and reward their staff, nurturing a culture that allows all employees to play a role in moving the company forward. What makes you stand out in terms of how you treat your staff? Are they able to progress and thrive? Why is your workplace culture superior to those in your sector? Would you want your children to work for the business you run? What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?

Rural Award

Yorkshire is home to some of the most beautiful and breathtaking countryside in the world. We are looking for the best enterprises who operate from it.- Are you based in a small town, village or hamlet?- Are you making a positive difference to your area by creating jobs and innovating?- Are you determined that rural areas should be as successful as urban ones?- And how does being based in the countryside enhance your firm?- And how has your firm dealt with the Covid crisis?Let us know in 1,000 words or less.

Young Business

A category focusing on rapidly growing businesses in our region.- Have you taken the plunge into entrepreneurialism and hit the ground running?- Have you got the capacity to become a multi-million pound business?- Do you have an incredible story to tell of how you took a risk and made sure it paid off?- What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?If so, let us know in 1,000 words or less.

Technology & Digital Award

- Are you harnessing new technologies to give their firm the edge over the rest?- Are you leaders, not followers, in this fast-moving sector?- Have you innovated your systems, products and procedures to offer something your competitors cannot?- What positive measures and actions did you undertake to protect your business, clients and staff during the Covid crisis?Tell us how you are reshaping the sector and the economy in 1000 words or less.

To enter the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards, click here.