Judges come to decision over Variety Club business winners

Representatives from the worlds of technology, banking, corporate finance, accountancy and law debated which boards and business leaders should be considered as worthy candidates for the prestigious awards.

After some lively discussions, the panel members cast their votes to select the winners.

They will be revealed at the annual fundraising lunch at The Queens hotel in Leeds before an audience of top entrepreneurs and executives from Yorkshire's publicly listed and privately owned businesses.

The awards are now 24 years old and have so far raised around 3m for disadvantaged children across the region.

They are supported by the Yorkshire Post and executive search firm, Hitchenor Wakeford, which also hosted the judging session.

The judges were John Wakeford, managing director of Hitchenor Wakeford; David Buckley, senior partner of Ernst & Young in Yorkshire; Peter Wilkinson, chief executive of InTechnology; Stephen Griffiths, director of Rothschild; Steve Riddick, vice chairman of Bartlett & Company; Nimble Thompson, chairman of NG Bailey; Neil Williams, regional director of Santander Corporate Banking; and Bernard Ginns, Business Editor of the Yorkshire Post.

The sponsors are Bartlett & Company, Ernst & Young, Evans Property Group, Pace, Pinsent Masons LLP, NM Rothschild & Sons Limited, Santander Corporate Banking and Yorkshire Building Society. To apply for tickets, email [email protected] or write to Maxine Webb, Regional Administrator, The Variety Club Children's Charity, 54a The Balcony, The Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8NG or phone 0113 245 9937.