Search is underway to recognise Yorkshire’s best leaders

The Yorkshire Leadership Awards will take place for the first time this November to showcase the very best leaders and organisations across the region.

TheBusinessDesk.com has created the Yorkshire Leadership Awards to celebrate the people that are role models within their organisations and raise the bar for their competitors. Nominations are now open for the awards. Winners, judged by an independent panel, will show the qualities of extraordinary leadership and be able to demonstrate the positive impact this has had.

Sponsored by Leeds Beckett University’s Leeds Business School, the awards lunch, to be held on Wednesday 28 November, will feature keynote speaker rugby league player Jamie Peacock. As a former captain of both Great Britain and England, the former Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls player will talk about how strong leadership and teamwork can lead to great success.

Jamie Peacock

Peacock is widely acknowledged as one of the best players of the Super League era. As a player, he led from the front and led his teams to glory while earning the respect  from his team mates and his opponents in both hemispheres through his determination and commitment.

In a distinguished career for Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos, Peacock won nine league titles, four Challenge Cups and four World Club Challenge trophies. He also made nearly 50 appearances for the national team, and was captain for seven years.

His many individual honours include being named as the best forward in the world twice, winning the Man of Steel award, and receiving an MBE for his services to rugby league.

Kayley Worsley, Yorkshire editor at TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “These awards are all about recognising brilliant leaders and the way in which they inspire others to achieve great things while adapting to the ever-changing environment.

“Great leaders have the ability to change their organisations and can also have a positive impact on regions and sectors. They are able to shape the success of the business while being accessible and visible.

“The Yorkshire leadership awards will celebrate the achievements of those individuals who work tirelessly to deliver results and provide fantastic opportunities for their teams.”

Impact can be measured in a number of ways, including improving financial performance, organisational culture or external reputation, overcoming adversity and challenges or by enabling other people succeed. Nominations must be submitted by the deadline of Friday, September 28.

The shortlisted individuals and organisations will be those who have made a difference through a real desire to make things better.

Peacock said: “Leading from the front can generate great results, as well as encourage teamwork and motivation. There are some fantastic firms across Yorkshire who have amazing leaders and we all have something in common – the determination to succeed and ensure the best outcome for all stakeholders. I look forward to November’s award lunch to meet those inspiring business people who make our region thrive.”

The awards lunch  will take place on Wednesday 28 November at The Queens Hotel, Leeds. Tickets, on sale now, are priced at £90+VAT for an individual ticket and £850+VAT for a table of 10.

The award categories

The Leadership awards offer a great opportunity to recognise and showcase the achievements and success of businesses in the region. The 2018 Leadership awards are:

Young Leader
This award recognises the best leader aged under 35 (on December 1, 2018) for their ability to make a real difference in their organisation by bringing about positive change and inspiring others around them.

Best Leadership Programme
Successful companies know that leaders can be developed internally, not just hired externally. This award will go to the company or organisation that has delivered significant improvements through its successful leadership programme.

Empowering Potential
This award is for the leader who has inspired and developed people, unlocking potential they may never have known they had. The winning candidate will have helped their team or people in their team to beat their own expectations of themselves and/or the expectations of others.

Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Increasingly organisations are embracing the benefits of having a diverse workforce at every level and in creating an environment where everyone has a voice. The Diversity and Inclusion leader of the year will be the individual who has championed diversity and inclusion, whether inside their organisation or as part of an outside group or initiative, and worked to improve the opportunities for any under-represented group.

Public and Third Sector
The public and third sectors have been under pressure in recent years, requiring its leaders to be innovative and achieve more with less. This has required leaders who can overcome challenges, often under close scrutiny, and drive cultural change in their organisation.

Professional Services
The professional services leader of the year will be the individual who is showing strong leadership and having an impact in their firm or further afield.

Transformational Leader
Delivering change requires a well-executed plan, but to deliver transformational change requires the added magic ingredient of exceptional leadership. This award will recognise the individual who has achieved that, delivering measurable success in their organisation.

Company Leader (up to 100 employees)
Leading small companies presents its own challenges, often requiring flexibility and a personal touch. This award will go to the best leader in a Midlands company which employs up to 100 people.

Company Leader (100+ employees)
Leadership in a larger company requires effort to ensure the company direction and vision is managed and communicated, often across shifts, sites and even countries. This award will go to the best leader in an organisation which employs more than 100 people.

Leader of the Year
This person will be selected from the other award winners and will be the person or organisation that embodies outstanding leadership and is an exemplar for the Midlands.

How to enter

Entrants should complete the entry form and return to leadership@thebusinessdesk.com. The deadline for entries is Friday, September 28 2018.

Great leadership can also be demonstrated through roles with other bodies where the individual is championing the region, sector or under-represented groups.

Leadership happens throughout an organisation so applicants can be from anywhere in the organisation. At its core leadership is about mindset and behaviour, not always hierarchy.

The entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges, which will be announced shortly.