Once we opened the floodgates to entries at the beginning of the year, the hard work was yet to begin – judging each of our 11 categories.

The quality and number of entries was so great, as ever, that it proved a difficult task for the judging panel. Representatives from the T&A, Bradford Chamber, Bradford Council, our sponsors and the local business community all pitched in to help draw up short-lists.

And what a difficult task it was. Specific questions were asked on each category nomination form to help the judges compare companies and individuals and to score them against each other in a host of criteria.

When judges appointed to each category had pored over the entry forms and drawn up their preferred shortlists, the judging panel met at the Bradford Chamber headquarters to hear presentations from each judge about which were their favoured winners, and why.

Then the whole judging panel voted on which of the three shortlisted entrants should be named the winner in each category. Some awards were hotly debated and the entries scrutinised to ensure the best possible winner was chosen.

Then, when the panel was satisfied with the winners in each category, thoughts turned to the matter of choosing the 11th category – the Winner of Winners.

This was drawn from the winners of each category and judges discussed long and hard who deserved to be taking a second award home with them on the big night.

The panel was in for a few pleasant surprises along the way, including seeing the nominations for best employer from staff who really appreciated working for bosses and companies that cared for their wellbeing, and looking at entries from companies who didn’t always grab the headlines but who are doing great work in keeping Bradford’s business landscape fresh, exciting and thriving.