SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
FINALISTS 2026
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by CO Group CO Home Improvements
The “Apprentice of the Year” award recognises exceptional contributions by apprentices within our business community. To be eligible, nominees must have successfully completed a relevant qualification as part of their apprenticeship in the last two years or are currently studying. Judges consider factors such as outstanding achievement, commitment to personal development, safety awareness, and positive impact on the workplace. Demonstrating how their learning directly applies to their role is essential.
2026 FINALISTS:
Leah Cordall – Wakefield Hospice
Sarah Lowden – The Prince of Wales Hospice
Drew Wallace Ross – Bluestone
Max Wright – Target Components
Business Growth Success Story
Sponsored by Huddersfield Business School
Small and Medium businesses are the engine of British business and many are growing despite economic conditions and the changes to international trade. Has your business grown despite all the challenges of the past few years? Whatever the size of your organisation – whether it’s run from your spare room or you have offices and hundreds of staff – if you have beaten the odds to deliver growth, we want to know what has made you so successful.
2026 FINALISTS:
Conservatory Outlet Group
IRM Group
Mint HR
Target Components
Wakefield Hospice Unit G
Business Leader of the Year
Sponsored by Purple Pebble People
Incredible leaders have a ripple effect across everyone they know. If you know someone who has made a real impact in business, this is the category to nominate them. Maybe they have built or transformed a business or created a unique proposition. They could have led a business unit or service through a difficult time, and it emerged stronger as a result. We’re seeking stories of vision, leadership, and success; of calculated risks and grasped opportunities; and of resilience in the face of challenge. It’s not the size of the business that matters, but the size of the difference they made to it.
We are happy to accept leaders of Wakefield District businesses OR business leaders that reside in the Wakefield District. Proof of residency may be required.
For this category we will accept self-nominations and entries from an organisation for one of their leaders.
2026 FINALISTS:
Ian Parsons – Parsons Chartered Accountants
Nick Rushworth – IRM Group
Melenie Tudor – En Route Hair and Beauty
Tina Turner – Wakefield Hospice
Collaboration of the Year
Sponsored by Phoenix Cleaning Company
Have you successfully worked with other businesses from the Wakefield district to create an amazing collaboration? How have you added value to one another’s offer, or how have you helped a local business to even more success? This award will recognise the ways in which we are more than the sum of our parts. Tell us about how the collaboration came about, and how both/all parties have benefited.
2026 FINALISTS:
Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
McManus Consulting
The Nostell Estate
The Yorkshire Broker
Doing Good in Business
Sponsored by TBC
Businesses should be responsible citizens too. This award will be presented to the company with the best corporate social responsibility plan, relative to its size. You don’t have to donate thousands to charity or try to save the world, you just have to be doing your bit to make it a better place. If there’s a link between your activities and your business, even better. Maybe you’re volunteering for a charity close to your heart. Perhaps you’ve given some of your skills for free to a cause that deserves the support. You could have done brilliant work on sustainability and be well on your way to slicing your carbon footprint in half.
You’ll need a plan, a reason why you’ve chosen to do what you do, and a way to demonstrate how you’re making a difference to impress the judges.
2026 FINALISTS:
Bumblebees Childminders
En Route Hair and Beauty
Phoenix Cleaning Company
Solupak Ltd
Employer of the Year – Small Business (Up to 50 Employees)
Sponsored by Wakefield College
Are you a truly outstanding employer? Have you listened to your people and created terms, conditions and an environment which truly helps them to thrive? Are you inclusive, flexible and understanding that people can’t totally switch off what’s going on at home when they come to work? Show us why you are head and shoulders above the rest and should be named Wakefield District employer of the year. Small/Medium Employer of the Year is open to businesses with under 250 employees.
2026 FINALISTS:
En Route Hair and Beauty
Parsons Chartered Accountants
Phoenix Cleaning Company
Solupak Ltd
Employer of the Year – Medium/Large Business (50+ Employees)
Sponsored by The Alternative Board
Are you a truly outstanding employer? Have you listened to your people and created terms, conditions and an environment which truly helps them to thrive? Are you inclusive, flexible and understanding that people can’t totally switch off what’s going on at home when they come to work? Show us why you are head and shoulders above the rest and should be named Wakefield District employer of the year. Large Employer of the Year is open to businesses with over 250 employees.
2026 FINALISTS:
Complete Care West Yorkshire
Conservatory Outlet Group
Milestone Group
Small Manufacturer of the Year
Sponsored by Northern Media
This award recognises a small manufacturing business within the Wakefield district that demonstrates exceptional performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Open to self-nominating manufacturers with less than 50 employees this category celebrates the remarkable achievements of organisations that drive growth, invest in skills, and contribute significantly to Wakefield’s industrial strength.
Judges will be looking for evidence of innovation in products or processes, operational improvement, sustainability initiatives, workforce development, and overall business impact. This award highlights SMEs that punch above their weight– showcasing resilience, ambition, and a dedication to advancing both their sector and the local economy.
2026 FINALISTS:
Bowmart
Crompton Controls
Dust Control Environmental Ltd
Solupak Ltd
Medium/Large Manufacturer of the Year
Sponsored by Bluestone
This award recognises a medium to large manufacturing business within the Wakefield district that demonstrates exceptional performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Open to self-nominating manufacturers with over 50 employees, this category celebrates the remarkable achievements of organisations that drive growth, invest in skills, and contribute significantly to Wakefield’s industrial strength.
Judges will be looking for evidence of innovation in products or processes, operational improvement, sustainability initiatives, workforce development, and overall business impact. This award highlights SMEs that punch above their weight– showcasing resilience, ambition, and a dedication to advancing both their sector and the local economy.
2026 FINALISTS:
CO Manufacturing
Group Rhodes
Micro or Small Business of the Year – businesses with 0-50 employees
Sponsored by ActionCoach White Rose
Micro and small businesses rock too! Tell us about how you are small-but-mighty. Name-drop as much as you want (or are able to) and help the judges understand why you’re making a huge impact with a small team.
If you’ve had a year to remember, delivered a stand-out project, or just think you and your team deserve your moment in the spotlight, this is your opportunity to show the whole business community why micro and small businesses are not to be under-estimated.
2026 FINALISTS:
Aqua Interpreting Group
Chris Whittam Photography
En Route Hair and Beauty
Hopwood Creative
Mint HR
Northern Media
Medium or Large Business of the Year – businesses with more than 50 employees
Sponsored by The One Point
Celebrating the contribution that medium and large businesses make to the Wakefield district, this award will be given to an organisation which demonstrates consistent growth, strong financial performance, a deep understanding of its customers and an engaged workforce.
Show the judges your strategy for sustained success, how you’re harnessing technology and/or why your strategy is paying off. Give them insight and strong evidence to support your story and demonstrate your impact.
2026 FINALISTS:
Complete Care West Yorkshire
Conservatory Outlet Group
Milestone Group
Thornton Jones Solicitors
Diversity in Business Award
Sponsored by Wordsmiths Unlimited
Our district is home to more than 20 languages and a wonderfully rich mix of cultures and communities. This award celebrates businesses that embrace that diversity – and do something meaningful with it.
Whether you’ve worked to make your workplace more inclusive, reached out to communities that are often overlooked, or found creative ways to bring different people together, we want to hear your story.
Ask yourself: do you actively welcome people from all walks of life? Have you taken steps to make sure everyone feels they belong – as an employee, a customer, or a member of the wider community?
This award will be judged on:
Commitment – Do you have a genuine, demonstrable commitment to inclusion, whether that’s in your team, your services, or your community?
Creativity – How have you broken down barriers or found fresh ways to bring people together?
Leadership – Have you shared what you’ve learned or inspired others to follow your lead?
Collaboration – Have you involved diverse voices in shaping what you do, or partnered with others to achieve more together?
Impact – What did you set out to do, and what difference has it made? Tell us about your goals and what you achieved.
2026 FINALISTS:
Aqua Interpreting Group
Complete Care West Yorkshire
Solupak Ltd
Charity of the Year
Sponsored by Shift
We need our third sector more than ever as issues with the cost of living still have us firmly in their grasp. Charitable organisations fulfil an incredible need, supporting the most vulnerable and providing essential as well as enriching services. If your organisation is a Registered Charity, this is the category for you. THIS CATEGORY IS FREE TO ENTER.
2026 FINALISTS:
Community Foundation Wakefield District
Friends of Waterton’s Wall
The Prince of Wales Hospice
Wakefield Cathedral
Rising star – for under 30s
Sponsored by Mint Human Resources
Do you know an under-30 who’s already making their mark? Maybe they have recently taken on extra responsibilities or gone above and beyond what you’d expect for them. We’re looking for stand-out individuals making a significant contribution to their organisation, whether through improving internal communication, exceeding their targets set or receiving notable recognition from clients and customers.
Nominees for this category must be 29 or younger on 13 November 2025. Nominations must be made by someone other than the potential rising star!
2026 FINALISTS:
Jay Collier – Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Beth Dickinson – Target Components
Missy Mortimer – CO Manufacturing
Shining Star – for over 30s
Sponsored by TBC
Do you know someone over 30 who continues to excel, inspire and make a real difference? The Shining Star – Over 30s award celebrates individuals who are delivering outstanding impact in their role, demonstrating that ambition, growth and excellence don’t have an age limit.
This category is open to stand-out individuals who consistently go above and beyond expectations — whether through exceptional performance, innovative thinking, leading positive change, mentoring others, or making a significant contribution to their organisation’s success. They may have stepped into greater responsibility, reinvented their career path, or quietly but powerfully raised the bar for those around them.
Nominees for this category must be aged 30 or over on 13 November 2025.
Nominations must be made by someone other than the Shining Star!
2026 FINALISTS:
Shannon Doherty – En Route Gair and Beauty
Hannah Downing – Parsons Chartered Accountants
Abigail Field – Milestone Group
Marta Rybak – Juice Personnel
Shelly Wales – Thornton Jones Solicitors
Team of the Year
Sponsored by The Nostell Estate
Teams competing for this award should showcase tangible outcomes. Highlight how your team’s efforts have positively influenced the company or organisaton’s success, growth, or strategic goals.
Describe how your team worked together to overcome obstacles or challenges. Whether it was a complex project, a tight deadline, or unexpected setbacks, emphasise your team’s resilience and problem-solving abilities.
Remember, winning the Team of the Year award is not just about individual achievements; it’s about collective excellence, synergy, and shared success.
2026 FINALISTS:
Made By Bramble
Mint HR
The Hive
The Prince of Wales Hospice
Thornton Jones Solicitors
Wakefield Top 100 Number One Business 2026-2027
Sponsored by Handelsbanken
As we bring this prestigious accolade into the Wakefield Business Awards for the first time, the Wakefield Top 100 Number One Business Award recognises the highest-ranked company in the annual Wakefield Top 100 Companies list.
The Wakefield Top 100 initiative shines a spotlight on the district’s most successful businesses, showcasing Wakefield as a thriving place to invest, grow and do business. A collaborative project between Wakefield First, the University of Huddersfield, and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), the initiative celebrates and measures business performance across the district using a robust and consistent methodology.
Compiled annually by Huddersfield Business School, the rankings are based on a combination of key indicators including turnover, profit, employee numbers and growth. The list is produced using data from published company accounts sourced through the Bureau Van Dijk FAME database.
At the 2026 Wakefield Business Awards, we are proud to celebrate the company ranked Number One in the Wakefield Top 100, recognising its outstanding business performance, sustained growth and contribution to the local economy. This award represents the pinnacle of business achievement in the Wakefield district and honours the organisation leading the way for business excellence.
Would you like to sponsor at the Wakefield Business Awards 2026?
Raise your business profile and be part of celebrating success in the Wakefield District!
Contact Claire@wearewakefield.org.uk for more information.
The Wakefield Business Awards 2026 Finalists Announced
Ticket Sales open
See you on the 12th November 2026 at WX Wakefield
