Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards 2023 shortlist revealed: Full list of finalists

More than 260 entries were submitted for this year’s awards, with a group of highly-qualified judges assessing them with great care and attention in a two-stage process involving individual assessments followed by a panel meeting last week.

Winners will be revealed at a black-tie ceremony on November 22 at Headingley Stadium in Leeds expected to be attended by more than 400 people. It will be hosted by BBC Look North’s Amy Garcia.

Yorkshire Cancer Research has been selected as this year’s charity partner for the event, while an after-party for guests on the evening has been arranged for Manahatta Headingley.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Leeds University Business School and Openreach.

For more information and to book tickets, visit https://www.nationalworldevents.com/ypba-2023/

Judges selected a winner of an Outstanding Contribution to Business prize which will be revealed on the night, while the shortlists in each of the categories can be revealed now.

Here is this year’s shortlist:

APPRENTICE/TRAINEE OF THE YEAR

Sam Manning - Thorite; Hannah Magowan - Dale Power Solutions; James MacLeod - DSSR Consulting Engineers; Ewan Tate - Faithful & Gould Ltd; Olivia Hullah - Trust Electric Heating.

BEST BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Thorite; Nature’s Laboratory Limited; iSource Group; Every Parcel Matters (Evri); Alunet Systems.

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD

Reckitt; Mattress Online; Go Green Ltd; City Cruises York; Yorkshire Garden Centres.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Younis Chaudhry - Regal Food Products Group Plc; Chris Lamb - Alpha Grafikon Ltd; Chris Delaney - Green Building Renewables; Jodie Hill - Thrive Law; Dan Spencer - Torsion Group.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD

Reckitt; Peachy Digital; Medical Protection Society; Labcorp; Zenith.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD - sponsored by Openreach

Mattress Online; Thrive Law; City Health Care Partnership CIC; The Progeny Group; Principal York.

INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Leeds University Business School

C-Capture; Fareshare Yorkshire; Safespaces; Pirta Ltd; Sheffield Forgemasters.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Bespoke Stairlifts Ltd; Matrix Technology Solutions Ltd; Regal Food Product Group Plc; Belzona Polymerics Ltd; Corrosion Resistant Materials Ltd.

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Torsion Group; Homes for Students; Labcorp; Zenith; Roy Hatfield Group.

MANUFACTURING AWARD

EnviroVent; Regal Food Products Group Plc; UK Doors Online; Belzona Polymerics Ltd; York Handmade Brick Company.

MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Go Green Ltd; Green Building Renewables; Belzona Polymerics Ltd; Razorblue; Yorkshire Garden Centres.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

JTM Service Ltd; Sycous; The Panel Company; Nature’s Laboratory Limited; UK Doors Online.

STARTUP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Corecom Technology Academy; Flooder; The Yorkshire Lime Company Ltd; YorLoos; Giant Bradley’s Sweet Shop.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

Leo Group Ltd; Zenith; Yorkshire Garden Centres; Environment Bank; Go Green Ltd

TECHNOLOGY & DIGITAL AWARD

BigChange; Catalyst BI; Sycous; COVVi Ltd; Pentest People.

Yorkshire Post Head of Business and Features Chris Burn said: “A huge thank to all who entered and especially our team of judges David Kerfoot, Sharon Watson, Sophie Dale-Black and Peter Kavanagh for their superb efforts.

"A huge amount of work went into picking out the best entries from a very crowded field which was testament to the strength of the region’s business community.

"Just being shortlisted for an award is a real achievement so congratulations to all of those who are finalists. It should be a tremendous evening next month.”