A strong shortlist has been announced for the only awards to honour small and medium businesses across Yorkshire.

The BiY Inspired Awards were created in 2014 by BiY and Awards Writers when they realised there were no region-wide awards recognising small and medium businesses.

This year’s shortlist includes 32 businesses, covering everything from start-ups to well-established businesses, and even a 17-year old entrepreneur, Eve Lodge of Barnsley-based, Barmy Bunting.

A director of one of last year’s winners, Vicky Nolan of Halifax-based Circuit Electrical, features on the shortlist in a personal capacity this year in the New Generation category for entrepreneurs under 35.

Vicky is joined on the shortlist by 20-year old Ben Lawton of Customer Controllers, whose business was born out of a need to fund his university studies, Andrew Robinson of Leeds-based Mr Flyer, who set up his business in 2011 from his friend’s back room with just £50, and James Howard of Brighouse-based Yorkshire Payments who took himself from a Wolverhampton council house, to running a company turning over hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Darren Shaw, founder of BiY and chair of the judging panel, said: “It was genuinely inspiring to read all of the entries and hear how Yorkshire SMEs are thriving and working with some of the biggest names not just in the UK, but in the world.

“The BiY Inspired Awards are the only ones honouring small and medium businesses across Yorkshire and those shortlisted really are at the top of their game.”

Fellow judge Louise Turner of Awards Writers, who also created the awards, said: “Some of the decisions we’ve made on which entries to shortlist were a really tough call, which just shows what a high standard the entries were.

“I’m proud and delighted to be involved in a set of awards which showcases what Yorkshire’s often-overlooked small and medium businesses have to offer and can’t wait to see all the worthy finalists in October.”

This year’s final judge, Johanne Bettley, of Winning Pitch, the organisation who manage the Business Growth Service’s Growth Accelerator programme in Yorkshire, added: “As an organisation, we’re committed to helping small businesses in Yorkshire achieve their growth and ambitions. I’m delighted to have been asked to be part of the judging, to see first-hand what an incredibly buoyant sme business economy we have in our region at present”.

The awards attracted a large number of entries from all over Yorkshire and are made up of eight categories:

• Ambition – for business of four people or less
• Transformation – for businesses of 5-50 people
• New Generation – for entrepreneurs under 35
• Solopreneur – for people running businesses on their own
• Super Staff – for a person or team providing exceptional service
• One To Watch – for businesses on the cusp of great things
• Out Of Their League – for small and medium businesses with big-name clients on their list
• Rock Star Customer Service – for businesses offering that extra something which keeps clients coming back again and again

The full shortlist is:

Ambition Award: For the business that can demonstrate ambition in its plans, structure and strategy

Red Kite Services

Pepamint

Bright Ethics

Barmy Bunting

Transformation Award: For the business that has reacted to its market and transformed its offering and services into what its customers want to buy

Siberia B.C Ltd

CCTV Direct

Circuit Electrical

Cars on Demand

Deans Computers

New Generation Award: This award recognises the most dynamic business owner under the age of 35

Ben Lawton – Custom Controllers

Vicky Colbeck – Circuit Electrical

Andrew Robinson – Mr Flyer

James Howard – Yorkshire Payments

Rockstar Customer Service Award: For the business that makes their customers feel like stars

TLC Accountants

Pixelbuilders

Alexandra House Spa

Crazy Wolf Productions

Hydra Creative

Out of their League Award: For the business that bats out of its league and keeps those household names coming back for more

Union

Pixelbuilders

100% Effective

BGM Logistics

One to Watch Award: For the business on the cusp of great things

Ukra-Link

Mr Flyer

Vale Radio

Barmy Bunting

Solopreneur Award: For the person that has identified a niche and is effectively filling it by themselves

McFade Photography

InFlow Training

Campfire Communications

Barmy Bunting

Super Staff Award: This award is for the business who have a person or team who go ‘above and beyond the call of duty.

FDS Director Services

Diane Watson Financial Planning

For more information about the awards visit www.biy-uk.com/biy-awards

For more information contact Louisa Garton of BiY on 01937 547100