The awards will take place on November 19 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Hull
Award nominees for the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards 2026, clockwise from top left: Ben Roman, Oliver Cook, Peter Lawford, Kaitlin Lander, Bradley Holmes and Paul Tennison. (Image: Dave Laister)
Judges have had their say on the best and the brightest businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire. A total of 27 different organisations remain in the running for the prestigious annual accolades, with the leading figures at the helm of three of the category contenders also competing for the coveted Entrepreneur of the Year title – underling the strength and drive of those now shortlisted.
Start-Up award entries were also up 33%, further reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit that abounds in the region, reports Business Live. It is the third edition of the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards under the tenure of talent champion Simon Jones and events specialist Jane Smallwood, and the level of support generated has surpassed even that garnered for last year’s silver anniversary celebration.
With the quality of entries also praised, the gala celebration promises to be another great night under the guidance of top television host Gethin Jones, when it is held next month. Simon said: “Our partnership numbers are incredible this year, the highest we’ve seen since taking the awards on, and we see that as a real show of confidence in what we’re delivering.
“The strength and depth of the submissions have been extremely good, and we feel that is a result of the whole process being taken a lot more seriously.” Judging of the nominations has been made more rigorous, moving from a desktop exercise with independent representatives of the business community, to in-person interviews and site visits by a far wider supporting cast.
Entries closed last month, launching the process. Jane said: “Since taking the awards baton on from Reach Plc, who remain our media partner, we’ve refreshed the judging process – taking it from a paper exercise to a deep dive with face-to-face meetings. We feel it enhances the credibility of the accolades, and this is reflected in the quality of our contenders.”
Headline partner is For Entrepreneurs Only, with three new principal partners also involved in 2026 – BAE Systems, HandH and Siemens Gamesa. They join East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Fred, Future Humber, GW Power, Horncastle Group, Hull City Council, Hull Live, KCOM, MKM, Sewell Group and University of Hull, with event partners Cobus Communications, DoubleTree by Hilton, Fisher Security and Soanes Poultry also supporting.
Winners will be crowned at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Hull on November 19. There will be a dozen awards presented, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, with packages of support tailored to the individual category, again part of the deeper focus on a richer event, taking it beyond the night. Tickets will be available through the website – www.heybusinessawards.co.uk – priced at £90 plus VAT each or £850 plus VAT for a table of 10, from October 19.
The Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards 2026 shortlist:
Rising Star Award
- Oliver Cook, The One Point Group
- Bradley Homes, Siemens Gamesa
- Kaitlin Lander, C4DI
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Peter Lawford, Managing Director, Sirius Homecare Ben Roman, Founder, Reaply / Little Astronauts Paul Tennison, Owner, The Brush Bus
Innovation Award
- Concrete Youth GMP Manufacturing Ltd Humber Violence Prevention Partnership / NHS Humber Health Partnership
- Environmental and Sustainability Award
- Bishop Burton College Tate William’s Den
Charity of the Year
- Hull Truck Theatre PAUL for Brain Recovery The Hinge Centre
- Team of the Year
- Humber Violence Prevention Partnership Siemens Gamesa Sirius Homecare Team
Best Place to Work
- Concrete Youth Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants Ideal Heating
- Start-Up Business of the Year
- Bright Edge Networks Little Astronauts Stamp Brothers
- Small Business of the Year
- FR Scott Informed Financial Planning Ridings
Growth Award
- Adams and Green Ltd Hull What’s On The Brush Bus Ltd
- Large Business of the Year
- Integra Buildings Ltd Tate The One Point Group
Lifetime Achievement Award
- To be announced on the evening