Green theme as shortlist unveiled for directors’ awards

Entrepreneurs from a wide variety of sectors will be competing for a host of accolades at the Institute of Directors (IOD) Yorkshire Director of the Year Awards.

The shortlist reflects the strength in depth of Yorkshire’s business community, and the growing importance of ‘green’ energy.

Those shortlisted include Chris Hopkins of Ploughcroft, from Brighouse, the renewables installer, who is in contention for the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Food production is represented by Stephen Kilby of Wharfe Valley Farms, in Collingham, and William Whitaker of Whitakers Chocolates in Skipton, who are both shortlisted in the Young Director and Family Director categories respectively.

Services sector firms also feature prominently on the shortlist.

Keycare’s David Ross, from Shipley, and Larry Gould, of Leeds-based thebigword.com, are nominated in the family director and entrepreneur categories respectively.

Those shortlisted in the SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprise) category include John Hull of Elite Office Furniture of Goole and Paul Teasdale of Premier Technical Services in Castleford.

Dominic Geary, the chairman of the judging panel, said the shortlist reflected the diversity of business and depth of experience in the Yorkshire business community.

He added: “Directors are quite clearly doing everything they can to ensure their businesses have the greatest chance of weathering current economic storms.

“Our shortlist proves directors in Yorkshire are flexible and able to grow their organisations in new markets delivering tangible profits and showcasing a diverse business portfolio in the region.”

The winners will be announced at a dinner at the National Railway Museum in York on Tuesday, September 4, where the world land speed record holder Richard Noble is guest speaker.

Regional director Kenton Robbins said: “The IoD Yorkshire director of the year awards celebrate the very best in the business.

“It continues to be a challenging time for businesses, which is why success and achievement need to be recognised and celebrated. Winning these awards demonstrate that you have been recognised as being at the top of your game by your peers.”