Finalists chosen now to the big night

THE judges have made decisions.

The finalists in the 2017 Examiner Business Awards have been chosen.

Now the focus turns to the big night when the winners of 11 tightly-contested categories will be revealed.

The awards dinner will be held on Thursday, November 2, at the John Smith’s Stadium and will be attended by the finalists, judges and leading figures from the local business community.

Awards will be presented for the following: New Business of the Year, SME of the Year, Business of the Year, Community Award, Employee of the Year, International Business of the Year, Creative Impact Award, Innovation and Enterprise Award, Employer of the Year, Young Entrepreneur and Business Person of the Year.

Businesses in the running for honours include ones involved in financial services, construction, video game production, logistics, manufacturing, legal services, marketing and medical supplies.

The awards dinner will include the presentation of the night’s most prestigious prize for Business Person of the Year. The identity of the winner will be revealed on the night.

Last year, the Business Person of the Year was Nick Glynne, of Deighton-based online retailer Buy It Direct, who was recognised for his enterprise in building up the business into a multi-million pound enterprise selling a wide range of electrical and electronic goods including laptops, kitchen appliances, TVs and drones as well as furniture online and from its showroom at Trident Business Park.

The judging panel comprised Huddersfield Examiner editor Wayne Ankers; Kirklees Business News editor Henryk Zientek; Prof Bob Cryan, vicechancellor of the University of Huddersfield; Jacqui Gedman, chief executive of Kirklees Council; and Sandra Babbings, director of occupational health specialist PROHMS Ltd.

Tickets for the awards night will be sold in the first instance to award finalists on a “first come first served” basis. Should any remaining tickets become available they will go on general sale from midOctober. For details, phone 01484 437702; email businessawards@ examiner.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @@ExaminerAwards