TheBusinessDesk.com’s MD recognised at Director of the Year awards

TheBusinessDesk.com’s joint managing director Lee-J Walker was among the business leaders recognised at the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Yorkshire Director of the Year Awards.

Walker, who was part of the management buy-out of the regional media business in 2017, was highly commended in the SME category at the annual awards ceremony at the Principal Hotel, York.

Colin Glass

Colin Glass, who co-founded accountancy firm WGN 45 years ago and has been involved in TheBusinessDesk.com since it was launched in 2008, won the non-executive director award for his work with social enterprise Shine.

Jon Geldart, chair of IoD Yorkshire and North East, said: “Exceptional businesses are only so because of the exceptional people who create, drive and sustain them.

“The Director of the Year Awards celebrates these leaders, often unsung and unrecognised. At a time when our country remains fractured by dysfunctional politics and politicians it is heartening that British business displays leadership where politics does not.”

The leaders behind Bettys’ tea rooms and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership received top honours from the Institute of Directors (IoD) at its Director of the Year Awards.

Roger Marsh

Lesley Wild and Roger Marsh received the Judges’ Special Award and Lifetime Achievement Award respectively.

Wild joined independent family business Bettys & Taylors Group 40 years ago and is chair of the board.

Marsh has been chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) since 2013 and has led the organisation through a period of significant transformation, including securing the country’s largest ever Local Growth Deal with Government.

He chairs the NP11 which brings together the 11 Northern LEPs to work with the Government to achieve its vision for the Northern Powerhouse.

The Director of the Year awards honour leaders from the public and private sectors along with entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds.

The winners now go forward to the national Director of the Year finals, where they will compete against winners from across the UK.

The full list of winners is:

CSR: James Cain, Harrogate Water Brands

Family Business: Tim Rix, J.R. Rix & Sons

Highly Commended: Sharon Lane, Tees Components

Inclusivity: Charlotte Armitage, Yorkshire Academy of Film and TV

Highly Commended: Charlotte Sweeney, Charlotte Sweeney Associates

Innovation: Dr Arnab Basu, Kromek Group PLC

Highly Commended: Zandra Moore, Panintelligence and Anthea Morris, Better2Know

International: Prof Adam Beaumont, AQL

Highly Commended: Debbie Heald, Heald Ltd

Non-Executive: Colin Glass, Shine

Highly Commended: Martin Allison, Rosedale Advisory Ltd

SME: James Cain, Harrogate Water Brands

Highly Commended: Mike Maddock, Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) and Lee-J Walker, The BusinessDesk.com

Start Up: Benjamin Maughan, Epic Social

Third Sector: Adeem Younis, Penny Appeal

Highly Commended: Kate Hainsworth, Leeds Community Foundation

Young: Oliver North, O&H Vehicle Technology

Highly Commended: Jack Deverson, Evidence Based Education

Large Business: Jacqui Hall, CNG

Highly Commended: Richard Smith, Surfachem

Chairman’s Award: Linda Pollard, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Highly Commended: Heidi Mottram, Northumbria Water

Judges’ Special Award: Lesley Wild, Bettys and Taylors Group

Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Marsh, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership