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.

The 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

• 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.

The 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.

The 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]