Red's and tastecard take entrepreneur titles

James Douglas and Scott Munro, founders of Red’s True Barbecue in Leeds, won the Emerging category.

While Matt Turner, CEO of Huddersfield-based tastecard, triumphed in the Consumer Products category.

The overall winner was former Leeds University graduate, Solly Solomou founder of The LADbible.

Stuart Watson, UK Entrepreneur of the Year leader at EY, and senior partner for Yorkshire, said: “Entrepreneurs will be amongst the North’s most important assets if it is to truly become a globally competitive ‘powerhouse’.

“This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year finalists and winners give me the confidence that we have all the right ingredients to grow our region and deliver on this vision in the long-term, but we must continue to support innovative business leaders.”

Red’s True Barbecue started out as a single restaurant in Leeds in 2012 and now has seven outlets across the UK, including in Shoreditch, London

Judges said they were impressed with Mr Douglas and Mr Munro’s “infectious energy and passion”.

The judges also showered Mr Turner with praise. They described him as “a complete entrepreneur” who is making “shrewd and bold decisions”.

The awards were held at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester and honoured business leaders across 10 categories.

Each of the winners were judged and selected from finalists leading 36 companies from across the North West, Yorkshire and North East.

All of the North of England winners will go on to represent the region at the UK finals in October.