Shortlist revealed for 2026 Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: The 2025 HEY Business Awards winners
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
Judges have had their say on the best and the brightest businesses across the region.
A total of 27 different organisations remain in the running for the prestigious annual accolades at the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards, with the leading figures at the helm of three of the category contenders also competing for the coveted Entrepreneur of the Year title.
It is the third edition of the 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.
And 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.
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, H&H and Siemens Gamesa.
Winners will be crowned at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Hull on Thursday, 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 are available at £90 plus VAT each or £850 plus VAT for a table of ten, at https://heybusinessawards.co.uk/
BIG NIGHT: David Hall, managing director of Beverley Leisure Homes, being named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025, flanked by host Gethin Jones, left, and award presenter Rob Dixon, of GW Power
The Hull & 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 & 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 & 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