A group of Cumbria-based businesses have pledged their support for the family business sector in Yorkshire and Humberside, through their involvement in The Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards.

An evolution of the highly successful North West Family Business Awards, The Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards will take place for the first time on November 11^th 2022 at the impressive Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

As the North West Family Business Awards has within Cumbria and the North West, the new Yorkshire and Humberside Awards will recognise and celebrate the achievements and talent within family businesses from across North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside.

Co-Founder, Sue Howorth said, “It’s been really touching to receive such fantastic support for our Yorkshire and Humberside Awards from those businesses that have been with us from the very beginning. They’ve helped our Awards grow and develop since 2016 and they’re as excited as we are to see the Awards expand into Yorkshire and Humberside this year”.

The Hawkshead Relish Company, Enterprise Answers, NXT Recruitment and Net* Development have all pledged their support.

Maria Whitehead MBE of The Hawkshead Relish Company said, “Family is at the heart of our business, and we consider all our team part of the family. To be a sponsor of The Family Business Awards is an honour and we’re very proud to be a part of it. We have seen the benefits that the Awards gives to businesses in the North West and we’re looking forward to seeing this being rolled out across Yorkshire and Humberside”.

Sponsoring the Leisure and Tourism category is Penrith-based, Enterprise Answers Business Finance. Chief Executive, Grahame Latus said, “At EABF, we are passionate about supporting family businesses – a sector that makes a more considerable impact on the national economy than most people appreciate, particularly within rural communities, of which there are many across Yorkshire.”

Grahame added, “We have assisted a number of businesses across North Yorkshire and have been consistently impressed with their entrepreneurialism and tenacity. We hope through our sponsorship, we can reach out to those businesses seeking finance to grow and develop.”

There are some fourteen categories to choose from for entrants of the inaugural Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards, including the Employee of the Year category, sponsored by Carlisle-based recruitment specialists, NXT Recruitment. The category celebrates amazing employees who go above and beyond with the winner chosen by a combination of public vote and judges scores.

Finalists for the Awards are due to be announced on Friday 30^th September and the full list will be available to view via the website which has been designed and managed by long-standing supporters, Net* Development, based near Kendal.

Presenting the Awards alongside the Co-founders, Sue Howorth and Dave Clarkson will be host Nigel Barden, a familiar name across the food and drink scene in the region. Nigel has a great affection for the region, working as a Land Agent in Yorkshire before starting a career in radio broadcasting.

Dave Clarkson of The Family Business Community added, “As the finalists selection draws closer, we would like to wish the best of luck to all those businesses who have entered. We truly believe that our family business awards are a great way for companies and those working within them to shine.

“Our sponsors and supporters play a vital part in helping us make it all happen, and we want to extend a special thank you to Mark and Maria Whitehead, Grahame Latus, Emma Lindsay, Simon Glencross, Jason Hodgson and Annette Ritson.”  

For more information about the Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards, visit https://yorkshireandhumbersidefamilybusinessawards.co.uk/