Yorkshire Business of the Year Awards nominations open

Nominations are now open for the Yorkshire Business of the Year Awards.

The annual awards, celebrating and honouring the best businesses of all sizes and sectors across the region, have become a red letter day on Yorkshire’s business calendars.

You can download your entry form here. Entries for the awards close on July 5. Site visits to decide the shortlist will take place between 3 September and 22 November. Each shortlisted company will then be invited to give a presentation in Leeds in January 2025 to the judging panel who will select the category winners.

The awards – sponsored by Tudor International Freight, RBC Brewin Dolphin, and Verlingue, with Campaigner as principal partner – will be presented at a gala dinner at New Dock Hall on 20 February 2025.

Yorkshire Editor Andrew Staples said, “The Business of the Year awards are the most prestigious awards in the region. For many firms this has been a year of endurance and resilience. We want to celebrate those firms who have not only endured but excelled – and I believe every business has something to celebrate.

“Have you increased your revenues or reduced your costs? Are you a great place to work, or have you made a difference in your community? There is a trophy awaiting your name. Don’t hesitate – get your nominations in, and tell us why you  deserve to win.”

The awards will be presented in 15 categories:

• Start Up
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Employer of the Year
• International Trade
• Investment
• Community Impact
• Property
• Family Business
• Small Business (up to 50 employees)
• Medium Business (51-250 employees)
• Large Business (251+ employees)
• Fast Growth Business
• Chief Executive of the Year
• Ambassador of the Year

What our sponsors say:

Tudor International Freight

Adam Johnson, director at Tudor International Freight said: “Tudor International Freight is delighted to partner with The BusinessDesk.com to sponsor the Yorkshire Business of the Year awards 2025.

“We know the value of entering the awards having been shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year category last year. It is a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past year, the hard work of your staff and a chance to meet other incredible businesses in Yorkshire.

“As a judge I am looking forward to spending time with the incredible businesses in our region, hearing about their successes, the challenges they have faced and how they have adapted in a challenging economic environment.”

RBC Brewin Dolphin

Nick Guest, divisional director at RBC Brewin Dolphin, said, “At RBC Brewin Dolphin, we specialise in helping Yorkshire’s leading businesses, senior leadership teams, and their staff realise their personal financial ambitions. Thanks to our structure, we retain the culture and personal touch of a regional wealth manager, whilst being supported by one the worlds leading global banking institutions. We’re extremely proud of our regional heritage and are absolutely delighted to be supporting the inaugural Business Desk Business of the Year Awards here in Yorkshire.

“We’re passionate about helping the regions businesses and their management teams to thrive and flourish, and our team cannot wait to meet so many incredible and exciting businesses over the judging period ahead. After what has been such a difficult last few years, it has never been so important to celebrate success, not just to the outside world, but also with your team and colleagues. We look forward to meeting all the fantastic candidates over the months ahead.”

Verlingue

Neal Lumb, group sales and marketing director at Verlingue, said, “’Only the strong survive and grow’ is the key lesson in today’s demanding economic environment. All the successful businesses out there all have one key skill in common: they are able to connect their people to the dream and achieve higher levels of commitment and performance than their competitors.

“Celebrating hard earned success is one of the ways great businesses can achieve this aim and that’s why we’re delighted to be sponsoring TheBusinessDesk.com Business of the Year Awards – meeting great businesses never gets boring!

“At Verlingue our ambition is to help great businesses grow by helping them understand and manage risk, giving them the confidence to pursue their growth ambitions safe in the knowledge that they are well protected when challenges present themselves – it’s all about ‘Protecting today, imagining tomorrow’.”