Shortlist unveiled of companies and individuals who are in line for trophies

Since we officially launched the awards at the beginning of January, in conjunction with the Bradford Chamber and Bradford Council, we have been inundated with entries in each of the main ten categories.

The judging panel has been sifting through each entry and scoring them on a strict and rigorous basis to come up with the shortlist.

Competition was intense in every single category and the panel was regularly amazed at the quality of the entries.

What really impressed the panel was that as well as entries from the well-known and established business names in the Bradford district, there are also a wealth of companies quietly plugging away who don’t particularly seek the limelight.

It was a really tough job for the panel to whittle the flood of entries down to a shortlist of three in each category – and as you might expect, there was much debate and argument about it.

The panel was comprised of: Andrew Cullwick, of the Bradford Chamber; Steve Waud, of the Business Enterprise Fund; John Dodge, of Gordons solicitors; Chris Holland, business writer at the T&A; Steven Gash, of Clough and Company; Carolyn Holroyd and Julian Rowel, of the Bradford University School of Management; and Sam Saxby, of the Better Business Environment Forum.

Andrew Cullwick said: “We were greatly impressed by all the entries and it was a really tough decision to get our shortlist of three in each category. There was often very little between the highest-scoring businesses.”

Those who didn’t make the short-list shouldn’t be downhearted – the competition was extremely fierce and every single entry was carefully pored over by the judging panel. The breadth and quality of them prove just how vibrant business in Bradford is in the wake of one of the worst recessions in living memory.

Two categories were opened to public nominations – Employer of the Year and Retail or Hospitality Business of the Year. For these categories alone we had scores of entries, proving that treating staff well and providing top-notch customer service should never fall by the wayside, no matter how tough times get for businesses.

Now we’re looking towards Saturday, March 26 when the gala presentation night takes place at the Aagrah Midpoint. There will be an Oscars-style event in which the winner of each category will be unveiled during a multimedia presentation.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke will open the event and proceedings will be compered by broadcaster and presenter John Hammond.

There will also be a talk by Carl Hopkins, the self-made business guru who made his fortune after selling the JDA marketing agency and appeared on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire show in 2008, in which he posed as a community warden to find a deserving community cause for him to donate to.

Among his current business interests, he runs Joblink Solutions, which helps charities, groups and organisations.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: “These awards are all about honouring businesses who have survived and even grown during one of the worst economic downturns of recent times. I would like to thank every single business and individual who entered the awards, and congratulate those who made the shortlist.”

THE SHORTLIST

BUSINESS OR TECHNICAL INNOVATION OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor Grattan) Image Analysis, Saltaire; Radio Design Ltd, Shipley Acorn Stairlifts, Steeton.

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Pace) Wewow Ltd, Bradford; Rance Booth Smith Architects, Saltaire; PEC Building and Shopfitting, Euroway Trading Estate, Bradford.

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Bradford University School of Management) QEST, Cutler Heights, Bradford; Affective Solutions, Low Moor Business Park, Bradford; Nora’s Gifts and Interiors, Ilkley.

MEDIUM/LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Bradford Chamber) Park House Healthcare, Birkenshaw; Incommunities Group Ltd, Bradford; Ashtree Glass Ltd, Bradford.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Morrisons) Junior Jam, Bradford; Candelisa People, Bradford; Project It, Keighley.

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Last Cawthra Feather) Incommunities Group Ltd, Bradford; PEC Building and Shopfitting, Bradford; DM Academy, Shipley.

YOUNG BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD: (Sponsor: Hallmark) Sanya Rehman and Zahra Mahmood, clothing shop, The Bazaar, Bradford; Dr Olga Kubassova of Image Analysis, Saltaire; Kumar Patel of Patson Local, Whetley Lane, Bradford.

WOMAN IN BUSINESS: (Sponsor: Horton Print Group) Deana Morgan of DM Academy; Jane Vincent of Candelisa People; Nicola Jones of Lady Penelope Cars.

RETAIL or HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Welcome to Yorkshire) Keelham farm shop, Thornton, Bradford; Midland Hotel, Bradford; Summer’s Butchers, Clayton, Bradford.

BUSINESS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: (Sponsor: Co-operative Group) Andrew Mason, New Mason Properties, Saltaire; Paul Mackie, Rex Procter Associates, Low Moor, Bradford; Chris Afful, Christopher James General Contractors, Idle, Bradford.

WINNER OF WINNERS: (Sponsor: Approach PR) This award will be presented on the night, chosen by the judges from the winners of the ten main categories.