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TheBusinessDesk.com supplemenT | Yorkshire AwArDs review | JulY 2013

A celebration of Yorkshire business success

supported by

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/?store_region=1


http://www.bdo.uk.com

http://www.journey9.com

http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk

http://www.thepandapartnership.com

http://www.sentiopartners.co.uk

http://www.walkermorris.co.uk

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contentsour judges. Profiles of the six leading business figures on our judging panel. 3 ➔

Gallery. a day to celebrate some of the best entrepreneurs and businesses in Yorkshire. 4 ➔

Yorkshire newcomer Award: Best new business initiative in the region. Leeds-based digital agency calls9. 6 ➔

Yorkshire exporter Award: recognising overseas trade success. stock market quoted technology business Premier Farnell. 8 ➔

Yorkshire pride Award: most meaningful philanthropic initiative by a business, organisation or leader. Dine events, which smashed its target

of raising £15,000 on its 15th birthday. 10 ➔

Yorkshire Grit Award: overcoming adversity and making a real difference. textile business abraham Moon & sons. 12 ➔

Yorkshire innovator Award: most creative or original business thinking. Leeds It business The test People. 14 ➔

Yorkshire Ambassador Award: Greatest contribution to business in the north west. Keith Loudon, senior partner for redmayne-Bentley.

16 ➔

Business MastersYorkshire awards review, July 2013

nOW in its fourth year, the Yorkshire Business Masters

is a very different kind of awards event. There are six categories, each with three businesses or individuals shortlisted by a high-quality and well respected judging panel.

The calibre of this year’s entrants was exceptional and the diverse range of the shortlisted companies, from large listed companies to entrepreneurial start-ups, made for a very interesting event where the finalists were the stars of the show.

The eventual winners were voted for by the readers of TheBusinessDesk.com to ensure it’s a true representation of business success in the region.

TheBusinessDesk.com was launched in 2007 and today supplies daily news to more than 110,000 leading business people and professionals in the region and beyond.

I would like to thank our Yorkshire Business Masters sponsors – BDO, Journey9, Leeds Metropolitan University, sentio Corporate Finance, The P&a Partnership and Walker Morris.

Our thanks also go to you, the Yorkshire business community, for your continuing support.

Congratulations to everyone who has participated in these awards.

We wish all of the finalists the best of luck. You are all winners for Yorkshire business.

David parkinFounder and director, TheBusinessDesk.com

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Thank you to our sponsors:

round Foundry Media Centre, Foundry street, Leeds Ls11 5QP.

Tel: 0113 394 4541 Fax: 0113 394 4322

Publication editor: Joanne Birtwistle [email protected]

Commercial manager: aimee Willow [email protected]










3 Our judgessimon chappell chief executive, Backup Technology

simon Chappell founded backup and disaster recovery firm Backup technology in 2005.

Headquartered in Leeds but servicing clients around the world, Backup technology is trusted by household names such as the BBC, Crown Prosecution service, WPP, Pernod ricard, Centrica and Liverpool Football Club to protect their critical data.

Prior to becoming involved in the It industry simon qualified as a chartered accountant and fulfilled a range of senior financial positions, including five years in private equity.

simon is also an industry representative on the UK Parliamentary It Committee (PItCOM).

Dominic Gibbons managing director, Wykeland Group Ltd

Dominic Gibbons is the managing director of the Hull-based property

development and investment company the Wykeland Group.

Joining the company in the late 1990s, he became managing director in 2009.

The company has a portfolio of property that stretches from Grimsby to Glasgow and a commercial development programme in the Yorkshire and Humber area of £400m, including Bridgehead Business Park on the northern approach road to the Humber Bridge, where works commenced in late 2012.

He is a governor at Hymers College in Hull, chairing its property committee, and also sits on the finance committee of the University of Hull.

paul Devlin finance director, Fletchers Bakeries

Paul Devlin joined Fletchers Group of Bakeries, a foodservice

and own label bakery manufacturer, as group finance director in 2008.

at the time the business was undergoing a very significant turnaround, culminating in the company winning the Business Masters’ Yorkshire Grit category last year.

During that time the group has improved efficiencies, entered new product areas and increased foodservice turnover, resulting in a return to profitability in 2011.

There has been significant capital investment through this period, the most notable of which has been the £7m investment in the sheffield business last year and profitability has continued to improve since.

Paul has spent the last 16 years in businesses undergoing major change, both in the UK and abroad. Whilst focusing on food, he has worked in sectors as varied as pharmaceuticals, luxury goods and healthcare technology.

In 2011, Paul was awarded Yorkshire FD of the Year for a Private equity Backed Business.

Andrew palmer regional director, Yorkshire, CBI

andrew Palmer is a graduate of sheffield University and has had a varied career.

He worked as a bio-medical scientist for the National Blood authority and as business reporter for the Yorkshire Post.

He is a fellow of the Institute of Bio-Medical scientists.

andrew was appointed CBI director for Yorkshire & the Humber in 2008. He was appointed by the government to sit on the Veterans advisory & Pensions Committee, he is chairman of ripon st Cecilia Orchestra, a board member of West Yorkshire Young enterprise, Leeds International Piano Competition and The Pilling trust.

He is also proud to be a Welcome to Yorkshire patron. He is also a keen badminton player.

Amarjit singh managing director, PowerDirect.co.uk

amarjit singh is managing director and co-founder of Power

eC, an independent electrical retailer with superstores in Doncaster, Wetherby, Bolton and Dewsbury.

Born in India, he came to the UK with his parents when he was eight years old and went on to graduate from the University of Manchester Institute of science and technology.

after university, he was one of the founding members of empire eC and responsible for setting up the company’s e-commerce and insurance supply operations, which were instrumental in establishing empireDirect as the UK’s third largest electrical retailer with an annual turnover of more than £200m and employing more than 400 staff.

amarjit also sits as a trustee on the board of one of the region’s best known charities - The Yorkshire air ambulance - as well as being involved with other regional social enterprise and business networks. He is an avid lover of Yorkshire cricket as well as following the highs and lows of england and India on the international sports scenes.

margaret wood founder, ICW (UK) Ltd

Born and brought up in North Yorkshire, Margaret Wood’s early love of the land fired her

inquisitive mind and led her to a career in science.

after taking a break to raise a family, she was forced back into the furnace of industry when she was widowed young and she founded specialist glazing company ICW (UK) Ltd. The company, which designs, manufactures and exports, specialises in emerging technologies such as digital, healthcare and regeneratives.

a true Yorkshire business ambassador she mentors young people keen to enter the science, technology, engineering and math sectors.

to relax she skis and rides horses.

Six of the region’s leading business figures judged the Yorkshire Business Masters awards for 2013.


Celebrating success, innovation and excellence

4➔A day to celebrate the best entrepreneurs and businesses in the Yorkshire.


The Business Masters recognise

success in innovation,

international trade, manufacturing,

social responsibility and leadership and

new business.


leeDs-BaseD digital agency calls9 specialises in mobile

app development, website design and digital consultancy. It was launched by former eversheds employees Pete Mills and adam roney 18 months ago.

During their time at eversheds, the pair designed and project managed a prototype online services platform which had the potential to transform how the firm could communicate with clients by giving them direct access to their legal spend, legal documents, and lawyers.

The platform scooped an accolade at the Law society excellence awards and Mr roney and Mr Mills were jointly awarded the eversheds Global Innovation award in 2010.

On the back of this success they decided to launch their own venture and calls9 now boasts a client list which includes Yorkshire law firm Gordons, Bradford Grammar school, Healthcare.co.uk and the aagrah restaurant group.

The focus of calls9 is on high value and often complex technical and digital requirements.The team began by investing heavily in publishing

content to the iPhone and iPad. Having approached traditional publishers who were nervous about the transition, they decided to prove to the marketplace its credibility by teaming up with local entrepreneur Geoff Thornton (Pour house / epernay/ Thornton inns) to launch Champagne World, the world’s first champagne iPad publication. This app is currently engaged with in over 70 countries.

On receiving the award Mr Mills said: “Our passion was technology and that became clear in our employment and we were encouraged to follow our dream.

“We are now looking to target clients in London and further afield because technology knows no boundaries.”

Judge amarjit singh said: “The calibre of entries has been exceptional, particularly with the tough markets we are all aware of.

“calls9 is a new, fresh technology based operation looking at the future and how markets and devices are changing.”

Brendan Guilfoyle, partner at The P&a Partnership, part of the P&a Group of Companies Plc, said: “It has never been more important to encourage bright, young innovative companies to thrive. P&a has again sponsored the Newcomer award to recognise

and support those businesses that are finding opportunities in a challenging market. We hope all the finalists – and the winner – of this award category will inspire others to start up or refresh their own businesses.”

6 YOrKsHIreNeWCOMer aWarD

Best new business initiative in the region

Winner: calls9

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Pete Mills receiving the Newcomer award from Brendan Guilfoyle of The P&A Partnership

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7 YOrKsHIreNeWCOMer aWarD

Best new business initiative in the region

Runner-up: Richard Grafton Interiors

Runner-up: Zest Mixology Global

rICHarD Grafton launched his interiors business in

Harrogate in March 2012 on the back of 25 years experience as a designer and creative director in the highly competitive sector.

taking on 3,000 sq ft retail premises in the fashionable Montpellier Quarter, Mr Grafton transformed the vacant unit into a three-storey showroom showcasing entire living rooms, bathrooms and a show flat to demonstrate the firm’s design and installation capability.

It provides a complete high-quality interior design service and also offers design-led interiors products, from fabrics and flooring to bespoke bathrooms and furniture.

The new retail and commercial interior design venture achieved turnover

of £1m in its first year - 35% ahead of budget - and acquired fellow Harrogate business Janet sandles Interiors last september. In December, it joined forces with renowned interior installations contractor andrew Freestone to launch a new joint venture.

With an ambitious vision to make richard Grafton Interiors the leading sector name in Yorkshire and beyond, the business has already created nine jobs and is contributing to the local economy as well as attracting clients throughout the UK.

In addition to looking for complementary acquisition opportunities, it also plans to strengthen links with manufacturers by establishing its own brand in bathroom installations and an own label collection of furniture.

mUrDO MacLeod, a former national account

manager at Bacardi and Britvic, launched Leeds-based Zest Mixology when he spotted a gap in the market for a mobile professional drinks service for the corporate and private markets.

The bespoke cocktail company has since developed into a full event management business with clients including the BBC, Mercedes, Barratt and Lloyds tsB.

Its innovative product range includes the creation of unique high-end coffee recipes used by the Nescafe brand, which the team presented at various road shows throughout the UK alongside celebrity chef ainsley Harriott; and cocktail products for energy drink brands including

relentless and Burn, for execution at their events.

The company, which uses Yorkshire suppliers, has more than 60 freelance staff in the UK and 12 on party island Ibiza. staff are all formally trained in schooling sessions that are operated in Yorkshire.

Richard Grafton, founder of Richard Grafton Interiors

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Murdo MacLeod, founder of Zest Mixology

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preMIer Farnell is a stock market quoted group which

distributes technology and electronics products across the globe.

The business, which employs 1,000 staff across its Leeds distribution centre and sales and marketing operation, achieved sales last year of £952m.

Picking up the award, Claire Doyle, vice president of global competitor strategies at Premier Farnell, said: “International markets are core to our strategy - they are at the heart of that.

“Over 70% of the european business is exported outside the UK and that continues to grow. We export in 36 different markets worldwide. We continue to lead via the web; that is the core channel for us. We will look at new technology and new markets and continue to grow.

“The emerging markets are also key to our strategy.”

Judge Margaret Wood said: “We were impressed by the way the finalists have looked for new markets and developed them. Premier Farnell is very impressive with the growth it has achieved by going into international markets.”

Matt Copley, partner, transaction services for award sponsor BDO, said: “The Yorkshire exporter award recognises outstanding success in international markets and provides other ambitious businesses with a footprint for growth. It’s not just about the accolade of being named Yorkshire’s best exporter; it’s about showing other businesses what can be achieved with the right international strategy.”

8 YOrKsHIreexPOrter aWarD

Recognising overseas trade success

Winner: Premier Farnell

BDO LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to conduct investment business. www.bdo.co.uk

Contact Ian Beaumont on +44 (0)113 204 1227 or email [email protected]

FORGING STRONGER LINKSLocal expertise, international reachWith BDO offices in 138 countries across the world, we’re the right choice for Yorkshire businesses with international ambitions.

Claire Doyle of Premier Farnell receiving the Exporter award from Matt Copley of BDO

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9 YOrKsHIreexPOrter aWarD

Recognising overseas trade success

Runner-up: Diamond Dispersions

Runner-up: thebigword

sHeFFIeLD-BaseD Diamond Dispersions

was founded in 2007 and has developed an innovative range of UV dispersions and dye sublimations that enables customers to print more effectively on ceramics, carpets, leather and textiles.

The company exports 85% of its production and has seen 32% year-on-year growth with record sales in March of £186,000.

shaun sagar, sales director for Diamond Dispersions, said: “It’s a fast moving market and people are aware of what our brand does. We have some of the biggest companies in the world coming to us now that we have done that groundwork.”

THeBIGWOrD operates a global translation operation

from its Leeds headquarters. Founder, entrepreneur Larry Gould, has built a business that also has a major Us operation and is the 12th largest in its sector, employing 442 people in nine countries working with 10,222 linguists from 73 countries, employed on a contract basis.

Mr Gould said: “as the market is growing so hugely with the internet,

the opportunity to sell services globally opens up and the growth is exponential. In 33 years we have grown every single year and apart from the first two years we increased profits too.

“Our headquarters for the world are based in Yorkshire where we have access to very talented people with a very special attitude to their work.”

Shaun Sagar, sales director for Diamond Dispersions

Larry Gould, founder of thebigword

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DINe events is celebrating its 15th birthday this year and

has already smashed its self imposed challenge of raising £15,000 for six charities.

a 15th Birthday Bash raised over £16,000 in just one night and further events this year include Paella in the Park, half the team completing the Three Peaks challenge, the Leeds 10k, a Fancy Dress walk and a Quiz night.

Dine raised a substantial amount of money for Leeds Community Foundation as well as the Ms society (Leeds Branch), st Gemma’s Hospice, the alzheimers society, Wheatfields Hospice and the Northern english springer spaniel society.

The business, founded by Daniel Gill, does outside catering but also is the in-house caterer at venues including Leeds town Hall, Leeds City Museum and allerton Castle.

On receiving the award Mr Gill said: “We are at £19,000 now and it has been a very rewarding experience. I did the Three Peaks last weekend!”

Judge Paul Devlin said: “This award is important to recognise these concrete examples of businesses reinvesting into their community. The three finalists do

stand out from the others but Dine has been consistently delivering to local charities.”

Laura Wolfe of award sponsor Journey9 said: “Journey9 is proud to sponsor the Yorkshire Pride award. Giving back is, and always has been, at the heart of our business and we are delighted to be involved in celebrating those individuals and businesses who

are true to our own ethos. Doing well by doing good is in our blood and in fact we don’t think there is any other way.”

10 YOrKsHIrePrIDe aWarD

Most meaningful philanthropic initiative

Winner: Dine

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JOURNEY9.COM

Dine’s Daniel Gill receiving the Exporter award from Laura Wolfe of Journey9

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11 YOrKsHIrePrIDe aWarD

Most meaningful philanthropic initiative

Runner-up: Gordons

Runner-up: Grant Thornton

GOrDONs was the first UK law firm to implement

a totally self-funded apprenticeship scheme.

Managing partner Paul ayre recognised that entry to the legal profession was easier for those from wealthy backgrounds and the firm decided to do something to change that.

The scheme has improved the diversity of the workforce at Gordons and created greater links with businesses who train future staff in a similar way.

Interest in the scheme is high and profile has grown as a result – the firm has been recognised with the Best training and Job satisfaction accolades in the top employers for school and College Leavers awards 2013 after being Highly Commended in the 2012 Law society excellence awards.

The apprentices are immediately involved in client work and have been instrumental in generating more then £300,000 in fee income so far and the firm says it has forged stronger relationships with clients as a result of the initiative, as many of them run apprenticeship schemes themselves or entered their own careers by a similar path.

THrOUGH the educate to Innovate programme, Grant

Thornton is addressing the lack of entrepreneurial skills among school leavers and graduates in Yorkshire.

The scheme set up by the accountancy firm is aimed at students who are from deprived backgrounds and connects business people directly with schools and colleges.

Grant Thornton has brought clients and others, including third sector organisations, on board. together they have formed a framework of activity for young people including work placements, mentoring, world of work days, careers fairs and site visits, along with bespoke workshops on communication and interview skills.

Part of the programme is Umph!, a business and enterprise competition held at the Huddersfield stadium each summer. It brings teams of 16 to 19-year-olds from across Yorkshire to meet, and be enthused by, some of the region’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. Umph! includes a virtual business competition, with iPads, a trophy and work placements on offer for winning teams.

Barbara Rollin of law firm Gordons

Sandra O’Neill of accountacy firm Grant Thornton

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TextILe business abraham Moon & sons has continued

to grow despite strong competition from China.

One of relatively few surviving textile mills in the UK, the company says it is the quality of the product that has meant it has thrived despite competition from abroad.

The firm, which supplies retail giants like Marks & spencer, is unique in being a ‘vertical mill’ with dyeing, blending, carding, spinning, weaving and finishing all taking place on one site.

Managing director John Walsh has introduced a range of products, which he describes as traditional with a “modern twist”, under the Moon brand that are in demand throughout the year.

On receiving the award Mr Walsh said: “Half of our business is export and we sell to 36 countries and are going to 18 trade fairs this year so we plan to continue with more of the same.”

Judge Dominic Gibbons said: “abraham Moon & sons is a very traditional manufacturer that has managed to innovate and grow to become a real success story for the region.”

Will arnold, partner at award sponsor sentio Partners, said: “tenacity and

determination have always been critical to business success and never more so than in periods of economic downturn. We are pleased to support an award that celebrates companies that identify opportunity in adversity and prevail against the odds.”

12 YOrKsHIreGrIt aWarD

Overcoming adversity and making a real difference

Winner: Abraham Moon & Sons

Sentio Partners provides strategic and corporate finance advisory

and transaction support services, with an outstanding reputation

for our integrity and for delivering honest, straightforward and

highly commercial advice.

Visit www.sentiopartners.co.uk for more details.Knowledge. Experience. Foresight.

John Walsh & Edward Wilkinson of Abraham Moon & Sons receiving the Grit award from Will Arnold of Sentio

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13 YOrKsHIreGrIt aWarD

Overcoming adversity and making a real difference

Runner-up: Disposables UK

Runner-up: Gregory Property Group

FaMILY-OWNeD cleaning and hygiene business

Disposables UK was born out of the entrepreneurial spirit and vision of the late trevor storer and is now run by his widow Diane, its chairman.

Operating for 26 years, the Meltham company, whose competitors include Kimberley Clarke and sCa, now has a £16m turnover with pre-tax profits of £800,000.

It was selected as a supplier for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games ahead of global competitors.

as part of the company’s five year plan to increase turnover to £30m, profits are reinvested into machinery, systems and people.

The decision to invest £1.7m in new technology was taken specifically to allow it to make luxury products that open up new markets. It says that investment in new machinery and new products will grow the business by £2m within two years.

Disposables UK moved to a new 140,000 sq ft site in spring 2013, a move it says will increase productivity, make savings, reduce its carbon footprint and make it more competitive.

leeDs-BaseD Gregory Property Group was

shortlisted for delivering the £40m Broad street Plaza in Halifax in the teeth of the economic downturn and property slump.

Once completed the Gregory Group successfully engineered further business transactions to bring joint venture partners that would help to secure final lettings and facilitate the phase two office building.

together with its financiers, legal advisers and property consultants it secured 95% tenancy before the 280,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme was completed. Broad street Plaza brought major high street brands to Halifax for the first time, including Vue Cinemas, Frankie & Benny’s, tGI Friday’s, Nando’s and Pizza express.

Broad street Plaza has already created over 200 jobs for Halifax and the office element will accommodate more than 600 workers relocating to the area. The Gross Value added impact to the local economy is projected to be around £8m a year.

Paul Halliwell of Disposables UK

Barry Gregory, chairman of Gregory Property Group

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leeDs-BaseD The test People, founded five years

ago, has turnover of almost £6m and provides one of the most innovative testing services for It, cloud and mobile technology in the UK.

Gav Winter and co-founder andy slight set up The test People, having seen a market opportunity to position and grow an innovative technical testing consultancy.

The company specialises in performance engineering, bespoke test solution development, automation, test services and strategic consultancy, with particular expertise in e-gaming, retail and financial trading.

On receiving the award Mr Winter said: “In the last year we’ve had 80% growth and created 35 jobs and our business really is our people.

“We commit at least 2.5% of turnover to r&D and innovation. That gives us a massive edge and should drive a lot more growth.

“The plan for the next five years is to at least triple our size and create a lot more jobs. We have very ambitious plans.”

Judge simon Chappell said: “This was

the strongest of all the categories with businesses across a range of sectors from tech to media to science, entering the category.”

Debbie Jackson, partner at award sponsor Walker Morris, said: “Innovation is the foundation of commercial success. Finding ways to do things better or encouraging new ideas is what stands individuals and companies apart from the crowd. The Yorkshire Innovator award recognises

this ethos, which fits perfectly with our own culture and belief in the importance of innovation and creativity in business. We believe Yorkshire is brimming with innovation and we’re proud to help celebrate and encourage its success.”

14 YOrKsHIreINNOVatOr aWarD

Most creative or original business thinking

Winner: The Test People

Delivering results for our clients.For expert legal advice contactwalkermorris.co.uk

Walker Morris LLP Kings Court, 12 King Street, Leeds LS1 2HL +44 (0)113 283 2500 www.walkermorris.co.uk

Gav Winter & Ash Gawthorp of The Test People, receiving the Innovator award from John Hamer of Walker Morris

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leeDs-BaseD element14 is the company behind the

credit card-sized computer raspberry Pi. In the last year more than 1 million have been sold and production has been moved from China to the UK.

The element14 Community, which consists of 170,000 members, is the first information portal, collaborative community and electronics store

specifically built for electronic design engineers.

The raspberry Pi group is the largest on the community, which element14 says gives it a differential and competitive proposition while the creation of new accessories and development boards ensured element14 remained the distributor of choice as well as contributing to further growth.

15 YOrKsHIreINNOVatOr aWarD

Most creative or original business thinking

Runner-up: BDC

Runner-up: element14

THe Biorenewables Development Centre in York

helps regional companies to explore business opportunities around the use of biorenewable raw materials.

One of the best projects that illustrates this to date is its work with regional breweries: typically breweries produce a lot of waste from spent grains, hops and yeast which have currently little or no value. Now, a number of breweries are working with the BDC to explore reworking these wastes into high-value natural chemicals that could be turned into profitable products, including flavours and fragrances.

established as a not-for-profit company at the University of York, the BDC has strong expertise in translating scientific research into viable business opportunities.

Beyond the current model, the BDC aspires to creating a strong biorenewables presence in the region to draw in additional companies, research facilities and funding opportunities.

Fabien Deswarte of the Biorenewables Development Centre

Keith Jackson of element14

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keItH Loudon is a veteran stock broker who is the

senior partner of Leeds-based redmayne-Bentley.

Having recently celebrated his 80th birthday, Keith has no plans to retire and his firm recently acquired £300m of assets from collapsed rival Fyshe Horton Finney.

He is a former Lord Mayor of Leeds and is a supporter of many charities and community projects.

On receiving the award Mr Loudon praised the city of Leeds and urged its business community to showcase its power on the world stage.

He said: “I am proud to be a part of this city that has grown so much over the past years.

“It is the second financial city in the land and that is one of the things that deserves recognition by the rest of the country, europe and the world.

“I am proud of everyone in the business community in Leeds and we have got to make sure the world around us knows what we can do.”

Judge andrew Palmer said: “It was a tough choice – the three have all put something back to the community

and there is lots of that in the region – its good that awards like this keep reinforcing that message.”

Deborah Green of award sponsor Leeds Metropolitan University said: “We have seen that we have all the ingredients for great business in Yorkshire. We do need these business leaders to be ambassadors for the next generation in the way Keith has done.”

16 YOrKsHIreaMBassaDOr aWarD

Greatest contribution to business in the Yorkshire

Winner: Keith Loudon

Leeds Metropolitan University is proud to sponsor the Yorkshire Ambassador AwardsWith over 100 years of experience of working with businesses in the region, we have an established track record of helping organisations to maximise their potential.

Call our advisors now to find out how we can support your business: 0113 812 1904

www.leedsmet.ac.uk/business

Keith Loudon receiving the Ambassador award from Deborah Green of Leeds Metropolitan University

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17 YOrKsHIreaMBassaDOr aWarD

Greatest contribution to business in the Yorkshire

Runner-up: Etta Cohen founder of Forward Ladies

Runner-up: Jim Dick of Hull Bondholders

etta Cohen founded Forward Ladies, a business support

organisation for professional women, in 2000 to support female entrepreneurship and to encourage women to consider self-employment as a career

choice. since then etta and Forward Ladies have supported thousands of businesswomen.

Initially funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the organisation is now self-sufficient and expanded from Yorkshire into other cities around the UK.

Jim Dick spent 30 years with smith & Nephew, the last

seven as global president of its wound management operation in Hull.

He was a founder member in 1994 of a business organisation to promote

Hull and east Yorkshire and is now chairman of Hull Bondholders, which has taken on that mantle with the aim of improving investment and stimulating the local economy.

In autumn 2010, Jim was appointed a deputy lieutenant for the east riding of Yorkshire.

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