Judging begins for Excellence awards

The hotly contested shortlist will be published early next month and the winners announced at a glittering ceremony in Leeds on October 31.

The keynote speaker at this year’s event is Patrick McLoughlin, the Secretary of State for Transport.

The former coal miner turned Conservative MP is expected to press the Government’s case for HS2, the ambitious high-speed railway project to bring the country closer together.

Dan Walker, the rising star of BBC Sport, will be master of ceremonies this year.

Since their launch eight years ago, the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards have attracted Britain’s most senior politicians as guests.

Past speakers include Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Chancellor George Osborne, Schools Secretary Ed Balls and David Cameron, who appeared while Leader of the Opposition.

The awards honour companies, small, medium and large, as well as individuals.

DLA Piper, Goldman Sachs, PwC and Yorkshire Bank are main sponsors.

Bradford University School of Management, Drax, O2, QBE Insurance and thebigword group are associate sponsors.

Tickets are now on sale. Contact [email protected] for details.