The hunt is on for the best small- and medium-sized exporter in Yorkshire as part of the Department of Trade and Industry's 1998 Export Awards competition for smaller businesses launched today.

Prizes worth more than £50,000 in cash and professional services will be shared among regional winners, a best newcomer and an overall national winner.

The awards, for firms with up to 250 employees, are sponsored by the British Overseas Trade Board, Grant Thornton, Kompass British Exports, TNT Express World-wide and Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, with support from the CBI, the British Chambers of Commerce, The TUC and the Institute of Export.

Launching the awards today Barbara Roche, Minister for small firms, said: "Collectively, smaller firms contribute millions of pounds to the economy through successful overseas trade and this effort deserves wide recognition."

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