Region’s entrepreneurs on the shortlist for leading awards

SOME of the biggest names in Yorkshire business are in contention for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2011.

Thirteen business leaders from Yorkshire have been shortlisted as regional finalists in the awards which honour top entrepreneurial talent.

Stuart Watson, partner and UK Entrepreneur Of The Year leader at Ernst & Young, said: “We have a great mix of sectors represented this year and it’s particularly pleasing to see social enterprises amongst our finalists.

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Entrepreneurs build for tomorrow. Their ability to overcome issues in these tricky times and to spot opportunity in adversity is a quality that inspires us all towards a better tomorrow for our businesses and our country.”

The Yorkshire finalists are: Martin Smith, chief executive, The Direct Marketing Group, based in Shipley; Larry Gould, chief executive, thebigword Holdings, based in Leeds; Saeeda Ahmed, director, Trescom Research and Consultancy, based in Bradford; Howard Nimmo and Marc Paish, commercial director and director, Pulse Group Holdings, based in Sheffield; Paul Rose, chief executive, Rixonway Kitchens, based in Dewsbury; Graham Bowland, chief executive, Surgical Innovations Group, based in Leeds; Neil McCrossan, chief executive, Nexus Vehicle Management, based in Leeds; Richard Kaye, managing director, Fired Up Corporation, based in Huddersfield; Sarah Dunwell, chief executive, Create Foundation, based in Leeds; Derek Coles, chief executive, Direct Group, based in Doncaster; Edward Ziff, chairman and chief executive, Town Centre Securities, based in Leeds; and Thomas Martin, the joint managing director, Arco, based in Hull.

The regional winners will be announced at a dinner on June 28 at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester.

Each regional award winner will go forward to compete for the title of Ernst & Young UK Overall Entrepreneur of the Year.