Return of the awards that have raised £3m for needy children

The annual awards have raised around 3m over the last 24 years for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in the Yorkshire region.

The awards, which are backed by the Yorkshire Post and executive search firm Hitchenor Wakeford, will honour the most outstanding business leader, board and small business of 2010.

A special Variety Club lifetime achievement award will be presented to an individual from Yorkshire who has contributed to the profile of the region.

The winners will be announced at the annual fundraising lunch at Queens Hotel in Leeds, which attracts leading business figures from across Yorkshire.

Martin Shaw, chairman of the awards, said: "Despite the recession, last year's event raised an amazing 140,000 for the Variety Club. We are staggered by the support and generosity of the business community in these difficult times."

He added: "Our 2010 event promises to be even better as we strive to increase our fundraising. In our spending this year on the Leeds General Infirmary children's radiology unit, Sunshine Coaches, specialist baths, electric wheelchairs and sensory equipment, numerous funday activities, football competitions and Christmas parties, we have tried to make a real difference to the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children in our region."

Mr Shaw, head of corporate, Europe, at law firm Pinsent Masons, has been chairman of the awards for the last 19 years.

He said: "Last December's event celebrated the 23rd year of the awards and we are very proud to report that we have raised about 3m in that period for the sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in the Yorkshire region."

The fundraising lunch attracts big-name speakers from the worlds of politics, business and current affairs. Past speakers include Sir Christopher Meyer, Sir Digby Jones, The Duchess of York and Frederick Forsyth.

Past winners of the business leader award include Lord Graham Kirkham at DFS, Sir David Jones at Next and Archie Norman at Asda. John Waddington plc, Northern Foods plc and Card Factory have won the board of the year category, while AES Engineering, Boost Drinks and Bluebird Vehicles have scooped the small business award.

Lifetime achievement award winners include Sir Gordon Linacre of the Yorkshire Post, Lord Hanson and Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

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.

The judging panel includes John Wakeford, managing director of Hitchenor Wakeford; Richard Gregory, chairman of Yorkshire Bank; David Buckley, senior partner of E&Y 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; Ed Anderson, chairman of Yorkshire Building Society; Neil Williams, regional director of Santander Corporate Banking; and Bernard Ginns, Business Editor of the Yorkshire Post.

The awards are not to be confused with the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards, taking place in October.

If you would like to nominate a company or individual for the business leader, board of the year or small business categories, email bernard.ginns@ ypn.co.uk

To apply for tickets, email [email protected] or write to Maxine Webb, Regional Administrator (Yorkshire), The Variety Club Children's Charity, 54a The Balcony, The Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8NG or phone 0113 245 9937.

How to be a winner

Business Leader of the Year (sponsored by the Yorkshire Post): The judging panel will be looking for a business leader who has made an outstanding contribution to their business, to the benefit of the workforce, investors, customers and suppliers – and also to Yorkshire's economy and community. He/she will demonstrate strong leadership qualities, integrity and commercial ability.

Board of the Year (sponsored by Hitchenor Wakeford): The emphasis will be on teamwork and judges are looking for a company, whether private or quoted, which has maintained a strong performance and profit record. The Board of the Year will also be judged on its composition (eg, the balance between executive and non-executive directors), its internal and external relations, and its general profile in the marketplace.

Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Santander Corporate Banking): The judges are looking to recognise an organisation employing fewer than 150 people (in total) – and with an annual turnover of under 20,000,000 – that demonstrates a strong potential to grow. It must have a clear understanding of the market in which it operates and its future development within that marketplace, together with sound and measurable business practices.

The Variety Club Award: This year, a Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented by the Variety Club Children's Charity. The recipient is a unique individual who is recognised universally as having made an outstanding contribution to the country in his or her area of activity.