Connect Yorkshire Business Awards 2026

Date: Thursday 12th November 2026

Time : 18:00 arrival, 00:00 close

Venue: AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, St Michael's Lane, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3BR

Price: Individual: £95+VAT / Table (10): £900+VAT

Dress code: Smart Business (Tie optional)

We are delighted to announce this years Connect Yorkshire Business Awards night.

We want to celebrate our members for all their hard work and dedication, not just with ourselves, but with the local and national business community.

We wanted to recognise the are amazing businesses and people in Yorkshire that don’t get enough recognition (in our opinion).

The categories and shortlists are below:

Inspirational Leader - Sponsored by ALT Legal:

• Kieran Harris - Senior Stairlifts
• Dan Jowett - Kiwi Group
• Emily Wragg - Candlelighters Trust
• Fara Butt - Shire Beds
• Ben Westerby - Find Your Fractional
• Jonathan Asquith - Jungle IT
• Lou Ellis-Frankland, Mansfield Pollard
• Erika Wilson, Wilson Power Solutions
• Caroline Medcalf - XSEM

Community Impact - Sponsored by WPA Heathcare:

• Vyne
• Sewell Group
• Gripple
• Phoenix Cleaning Company
• Candlelighters Trust
• LightsOn XP
• Boost Talent
• Riva Home
• The Coders Guild
• Montrose Health Group

Family Business - Sponsored by Thomas Coombs:

• Zebra Print Group
• Shire Beds
• Excel Water
• Daval Furniture
• Sound Leisure
• Technical Services
• Fearne & Rosie
• Smartideas UK

Small Business of the Year (1-10 employees) - Sponsored by The CFO Centre:

• Newhill Deals
• Boost Talent
• AAGRAH FOODS
• Kiwi Group
• Everon Ltd
• YB Financial
• The Coders Guild
• The Biskery
• EmAble Intelligent Fashion
• YorLoos

Medium Business of the Year (11-50 employees) - Sponsored by Your Engine Room:

• Senior Stairlifts
• Phoenix Cleaning Company
• Design Tonic
• E3 Recruitment
• Tunley Environmental
• Excel Water
• XSEM
• Daver Steels
• Technical Services
• White Label Loyalty
• La Feria

Large Business of the Year (51+ employees) - Sponsored by McLaren & Lamborghini:

• Vyne
• Jungle IT
• Yorkshire Garden Centres
• Optimum Medical
• Visiting Angels
• Gripple
• Propaganda
• The Harris Partnership
• Rudding Park
• Pavers Ltd

Mentor of the Year - Sponsored by Clarion Solicitors:

• Jonathan Sands OBE
• Sarah Jones
• Dan Archer
• Gav Winter
• Graham Royle
• Chris Henry
• Rachel Hannan
• Julian Kynaston
• Simon Biltcliffe
• Emma Dutton

Outstanding Achievement - Sponsored by Partners&:

• Senior Stairlifts
• YB Financial
• Clair Holdsworth - Martin House Children's Hospice
• AW Hainsworth
• Techbuyer
• Ideal Heating
• Excel Water
• XSEM
• Yorkshire Children's Charity

Fast growth business - Sponsored by HSBC:

• Newhill Deals
• Kiwi Group
• YB Financial
• Jungle IT
• Optimum Medical
• Uyare
• Boost Talent
• Do’Hut Limited
• Greenroom

Community Hero Award - Sponsored by Rathones:

• Luke Ambler - ANDYSMANCLUB
• John Gibbons - Focus4Hope volunteer
• Gary Dale - Redline Specialist Cars
• Professor Bob Phillips - Candlelighters Trust
• Ellie MacDonald - HelloHope
• Nathan Atkinson - Rethink Food
• Stuart Paver - Pavers Ltd

Ticket includes a 3 course meal, so please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Martin House Children’s Hospice are the official charity partner for the evening.

We would like to thank our sponsors for sponsoring the awards for the evening: