Excellence in Business Awards shine a light on the region's world class collection of SMEs

The Chancellor, among others, has often described small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as the backbone to the UK economy and The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards 2016 are highlighting the work carried out by our region’s innovative firms.

This year’s awards are now open for entries.

The Companies with a turnover up to £10m category, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank, shines a light on Yorkshire’s world class collection of SMEs, which often enjoy rapid growth, while continuing to develop new services and products.

Simon Wright, regional director of business and private banking, said: “For over 150 years, we have supported businesses across Yorkshire, and for the last 10 of those we’ve been a proud sponsor of the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards.

“Each year we are impressed by not just the quality of the winners in our own small business category, but the entries in all the categories.

“It is an annual reminder of just how many success stories there are in the Yorkshire business community.”

Mr Wright believes it is important for companies to celebrate their achievements.

“We firmly believe that, while winning an award is great, simply taking time to look at your business, consider the positives and celebrate them is a worthy exercise in itself,” he said.

“We would encourage any business to do that, and to enter these awards; every entrant has a real chance to shine.”

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Greg Hands, will provide an insight into the Government’s economic strategy when he addresses the awards dinner later this year.

There are 14 categories at this year’s awards, welcoming entries from companies of all shapes and sizes.

Apart from awards linked to the size of a company’s turnover, there are also categories that celebrate great exporters and the teams behind the region’s most inspiring commercial spaces.

Awards will also celebrate the champions of diversity in Yorkshire as well as outstanding employers, apprenticeships, turnaround firms and young businesses.

Mr Wright said: “Judging these awards is a difficult task; it is not easy to choose winners when the quality is so high.

“But it’s a responsibility we are happy to bear when we see those businesses represented on awards night. This year, we hope our job is more difficult than ever with more entries than ever before.”

The main awards sponsors for this year’s awards are DLA Piper, PwC and Yorkshire Bank.

The associate sponsors are Plusnet, The Sewell Group and Bradford University School of Management.

There is a special lifetime achievement award, which is sponsored by The Yorkshire Post. This award will honour an individual who has consistently gone beyond the call of duty to promote our region’s business interests at home and overseas.

Mr Wright added: “The Excellence in Business Awards night is surely the Oscars of Yorkshire Business; it is a night for us all to celebrate the powerhouse of industry, finance, innovation and education our region is.”

The closing date for entries is Tuesday, May 17. The awards dinner will be held in Leeds on November 4.

We will announce the identity of the awards’ dinner host in the near future.

Greg Wright, The Yorkshire Post’s Deputy Business Editor, said: “This year’s awards are set to be the biggest and best ever.”

To enter visit www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/awards.

The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards are now in their 10th year.

Over the last decade the awards have attracted a host of high profile speakers, including David Cameron, who attended when he was leader of the opposition, and the Chancellor George Osborne.

Other senior figures who have spoken at the awards include the former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, and Nick Clegg, the former Deputy Prime Minister.