Yorkshire eight make regional shortlist for entrepreneur of the year award

EIGHT business leaders from Yorkshire have been shortlisted as regional finalists in Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year awards 2010.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Apr 2010, 11:04 BST
Updated 29th Apr 2010, 14:25 BST

The eight are Ken Brook-Chrispin of Bradford-based Seabrook Crisps, Tim Whitworth of Leeds-based Republic, Simon Gray of Leeds-based Boost Drinks, Andrew Thirkill of Leeds-based Age Partnership, Gareth Davies of Halifax-based Frogtrade, Rami Cassis of Rotherham-based Documetric, Adam Hildreth of Leeds-based Crisp Thinking and Philip Burgan of Leeds-based Maria Mallaband Care Group.

They will compete at regional awards to be held in June. Regional winners will go on to vie for the title Ernst & Young's UK Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 at a ceremony held in London in October.

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Out of the 112 shortlisted companies, 43 are based in the North of England and the Midlands, 47 are in London and the South and 22 in Scotland.

The sectors most represented amongst the finalists are support services (30), technology (12) and retail (11). Just under a third of the companies are backed by private equity.

Stuart Watson, partner and Yorkshire Entrepreneur Of The Year leader at Ernst & Young, said: "This year's finalists have shown their ability to adapt to market conditions by seizing opportunities and taking market share, whilst their competitors got bogged down in the toughest of times.

"The finalists have maintained their vision for growth and pursued it, increased their focus on customer satisfaction and loyalty, expanded into new segments and geographical markets and engaged their employees using greater communication and transparency."

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The 2010 North & Midlands judging panel includes Dean Hoyle of The Card Factory, Mark Abrahams of Fenner, David Rasche of SSP Holdings.

Also on the judging panel are Vanda Murray, deputy chair of the North West Regional Development Agency, Anthony Preston of Pets at Home

and Catherine Richards of Inflexion.

Sponsored in the UK by Credit Suisse, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates people who build and lead successful, growing and dynamic businesses.

The regional, national and global awards programmes are held in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Related topics:LeedsYorkshireBradfordAge Partnership