Hull & East Yorks Business Awards return under new ownership
RUNNING THE SHOW: Jane Smallwood and Simon Jones
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
The Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards are back, and in new hands.
Launched by the Hull Daily Mail almost a quarter of a century ago, the annual event has now been taken on by Top 30 Under 30 founder Simon Jones.
The Hessle-based entrepreneur is working with Jane Smallwood, previously the organiser of the high-profile celebrations for Mail publisher Reach Plc.
Returning with a major refresh, 2024’s event promises to take the best of the glitz and glamour that made the occasion a business calendar highlight, while also factoring in opportunities for winners to further their aspirations and build on success following their crowning moment. Sponsors and partners will play an active part in the future development of the successful entrants.
Simon, who heads up recruitment agency Identify and has recently branched out with Top 30, launching in West Yorkshire following seven years of growth on the Humber, said: “I have been a huge ambassador for the awards since launching my own business, and was honoured to be invited onto the judging panel in recent years.
BIG NIGHT: Previous winners of the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards
“The prospect of losing this great event wasn’t a risk I was prepared to take, with so much potential to do even more with it. I’m delighted to take it on and join with Jane in ensuring the show goes on.”
The 2024 event will take place at Hull’s DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on Thursday, November 21. This year there will be a dozen awards presented, with entries now open. A deadline of September 29 has been set. Packages of support tailored to the individual categories are also being sourced by the team for the winners.
Jane, who recently delivered the 2024 Humber Renewables Awards for Humber Marine & Renewables – another former Reach brand retained by the business community – said: “Simon’s decision to step in and push this incredible event forward has been welcomed by the business community at large.
“Now we’re settled and focused on what we want to achieve with the event, I’m looking forward to seeing the stories of success emerge as nominations are made, while ensuring the best possible start to a new era. There really isn’t anything quite like the atmosphere of a room bursting with pride, and celebrating our winners for a 24th year will bring that back again.”
This year’s categories are:
Outstanding Contribution / Lifetime Achievement Award
Start-Up Business of the Year (Less than two years old)
Small Business of the Year (Less than 50 employees)
Best Place to Work
Environmental and Sustainability Award
Charity of the Year
Innovation Award
Entrepreneur of the Year
Team of the Year
Large Business of the Year
Growth Award
Rising Star
Full details of how to enter and the criteria for each category can be found on the new website: www.heybusinessawards.co.uk
