THE eagerly anticipated shortlist for the 2015 Press Business Awards is revealed today.
In the 25th anniversary year of the awards, more than 100 entries were received from businesses across North and East Yorkshire.
After much deliberation following an overwhelmingly high calibre of entries, the judges have picked three finalists in each of the 14 categories.
Entries have been praised for ingenuity in enterprise which will see this year’s awards recognise a variety of success stories from businesses of all sizes, across all sectors.
Laura Knowlson, business editor of The Press, said: “The resilience of businesses across the region has really shone through in this year’s entries as companies and individuals prove they have gone beyond recovery and are now growing in a variety of ways.
“The outstanding level of entries we have received made selecting a shortlist a very difficult task for the judges.
"We had a number of very tough categories in which it was hard to pick just three finalists, especially the Large Business of the Year award, where every entry was worthy of a place on the shortlist."
A number of exceptional businesses have been shortlisted twice including audio equipment specialist Damson, which is featured in the Dare to Export and Best Technology Business Awards, and Portakabin in the Large Business of the Year and Best Sustainable Travel categories.
This year's awards shortlist also sees the return of a number of previous winners including Yorvale in the Small Business of the Year category, which won the award in 2013.
The 42 shortlisted businesses will now be visited by judges to decide the winners, due to be announced at a black-tie dinner at York Racecourse on November 19.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary the awards will be extended to feature networking during the drinks reception, and a disco to round off the night.
One of the finalists will also be chosen as The Press’s overall Business of the Year. There will also be the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement award to someone pre-selected by our core panel of judges.
The shortlist
Large Business of the Year: Green-tech, Portakabin, Simpson (York)
Small Business of the Year: DSL Global Freight, Home Instead Senior Care, Yorvale
New Business of the Year: The Yorkshire Meatball Co., Podfit, The Yorkshire Wagyu Company
Best People Development Award: D E Ford Insurance Brokers, Young Discoverers, Garbutt+Elliott
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Ashley Hyde (Baba Ganoush Private Dining), Bethan Vincent (Bright Ethics), Alexandra Atkinson (Britain Does Vintage / Made Locally With Love)
Retailer of the Year: Nought E Foods, PlasticBoxShop, Hunters of Helmsley
Dare to Export Award: MooD International Software, Damson, London Deli Company
Business Personality of the Year: Johnny Hayes (Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association), Rachel Goddard (York Professionals), Andrea Ubhi (Andrea Ubhi Cosmetic Dentistry)
Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year: National Railway Museum, Carr House Farm Bed and Breakfast, Best Western Monkbar Hotel
Best Business and Higher Education Link Award: 5th Wall, Apatmer Group, The New School House Gallery
Famiy Business of the Year: Ged Bell Family Butchers and Pie Makers, Elcocks, Yorkshire Heart Vineyard & Brewery
Corporate Investment Award: One Stop Business Finance, Finance Yorkshire, Business Enterprise Fund
Best Sustainable Travel Initiative Award: Portakabin Group, TSYS International, University of York
Technology Business of the Year: Damson, Bytemark Hosting, PureNet
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