Revealed: The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards shortlist


Today, we highlight the strength of the region’s business community by publishing the shortlist for The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards 2014.
As well as start-ups and giant corporates, it includes intrepid exporters flying the flag for Britain overseas and ambitious technology companies pioneering in the field of big data.
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Hide AdThe shortlist shows that the spirit of enterprise is alive and well in God’s Own Country.
Judges met last week to debate the entries and decide the winners.
After a six-hour session, they emerged with the following shortlist:
• Young Entrepreneur:
Ryan Fraser, 32, Fraser Projects
Leanne Silverwood, 35, Local Care Force
Michael Smith, 34, Pivot Care and Consultancy
• SME Manufacturer, sponsored by Elevation Recruitment:
Ginetta
Ilkley Brewery
Birley Manufacturing
• Exporter, sponsored by thebigword group:
100% Effective
Transline Group
Turbine Efficiency
• Community, sponsored by QBE Insurance:
Ahead Partnership
Plusnet
Theatre Royal Wakefield
• Innovation, sponsored by Drax:
CallCredit Information Group
Harrison Spinks
WANdisco
• Outstanding Employer, sponsored by Bradford University School of Management:
Gripple
Incommunities
Plusnet
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Hide Ad• Young Business, sponsored by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses:
The Floow
The Ings Luxury Cat Hotel
Tech Search Associates
• Companies up to £10m, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank:
aql
Local Care Force
The Test People
• Companies between £10m to £50m, sponsored by PwC:
The Company Shop
Polyframe
Tracsis plc
• Companies above £50m, sponsored by DLA Piper:
Asda
Leeds Building Society
Transline Group.
Judges said they were impressed with the way that Yorkshire businesses are embracing new technology to improve productivity and pricing in highly competitive markets.
They also noted that companies that combine technology with innovation tend to have the best profit margins.
The judging panel was made up of Juliette Healey of the Bank of England, David Spicer of Bradford University School of Management, Jonathan Procter of DLA Piper, Andrew Devonald of PwC, Paul Grace of Yorkshire Bank and Bernard Ginns of The Yorkshire Post.
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Hide AdThe winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at The Queens hotel in Leeds on October 30.
The keynote speaker for the prestigious event is Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
He is leading the Government’s efforts to reform the welfare state and get more people back into work.
The master of ceremonies will be Justin Webb, the BBC journalist and presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme.
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Hide AdThe main sponsors are DLA Piper, Goldman Sachs, PwC and Yorkshire Bank.
The associate sponsors are Bradford University School of Management, Drax, Elevation Recruitment, QBE Insurance and thebigword group.
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s black tie event, which takes place at The Queens hotel in Leeds on October 30.
Please contact the Editor’s secretary Jayne Lownsbrough at [email protected]