Following a record number of nominations, the Hull & East Yorkshire People in Business Awards (PIBA) has announced its shortlist for this year’s glittering ceremony in June.
In what has been reported as the most challenging judging process to date, the PIBA team has confirmed that the quality of talent in the region has never been higher.
The Hull & East Yorkshire People in Business Awards first took place in 2019 and returned in virtual format in 2021 following the COVID pandemic. The 2022 awards and ceremony were warmly welcomed with nominations and businesses attending, and 2023 has demonstrated the appetite for recognition and reward with the highest number of nominations received to date, along with a plethora of business sponsors and an impressive judging panel.
Lucy Gray from the Hull and East Yorkshire LEP, head of the judging panel said; “This year we received a record number of entries for the PIBA awards, the standard of entries was incredible and just amplifies the sheer talent we have across the Region. As judges this made our job even harder, there were so many inspirational stories and examples, this made for some very difficult decisions. Having been part of the judging panel for PIBA since 2019, it makes me so proud that a Region we have so many great people to celebrate.”
Fellow Judge, Lee Solway of Harrison Solway added; “Along with my fellow judges, we had a fantastic but very difficult day in comparing opinions and notes on all nominees, but ultimately and collectively, we decided on the worthy winner and finalists for each of the 16 categories which were far from simple. This year seemed even more difficult than 2022 due to the unbelievable calibre of the candidates, there were some inspirational nominations for sure, a lot of which resonated with me personally in my own business journey, which proves that we have so many reasons to be proud of the Hull and East Riding area and the people and businesses which reside in it.”
The People in Business Awards is supported by several local businesses including headline sponsors and category sponsors. Lee Solway of headline sponsor Harrison Solway added; “After sponsoring the ‘Team up to 10’ award at the 2022 awards, I wanted Harrison Solway to become more involved so this year we agreed to become the ‘headline sponsor’ of the awards evening. As well as joining the judging panel, I get so much from reading the nominations, filling me with pride that we have such a hotbed of fantastic talent and businesses in the Hull and East Riding area.”
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 30th June, at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Hull and will see businesses recognised in sixteen categories along with an evening of food, drinks, and entertainment. To book tables and tickets, please visit.
The 2023 PIBA Awards Shortlist:
Rising Star – sponsored by Bondholders
- Oliver McWilliam – Lexus Hull
- Chelsea Taylor – Hudgell Solicitors
- Graham Wildridge – Transwaste
Above and Beyond – sponsored by HBP Systems
- Susan Fellows – Innovations In Care
- Kelly Bugg – Chameleon Business Interiors
- Graham Precious – Caremark
Apprentice of the Year
- Jack Fullard – Cloud Design Box
- Heidi Donnison – Visit East Yorkshire
- Sonia Kopacz – Alessandro Caruso Architecture & Interiors
First Class Service – sponsored by Nu Architects
- Green & Green Mortgage Protection
- Graham Precious – Caremark
- Lana Grisina – Smart Temps
Customer Hero of the Year
- Penelope Hadgraft – Clear Skin Pending
- Andy Craggs – Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
- Kaylee Carver – Gymophobics
Start-up Entrepreneur – sponsored by Hull City Council
- Paul Longley – Think Mental Health
- Cassandra Custus – Karinya Yoga
- Kim Bunn & Janice Hakeney – Boutique 187
Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by Forrester Boyd
- Michelle Millar – And Marketing
- Susan Fellows – Innovations In Care
- David Lipton – Consortium Professional Recruitment
Inspiring Contribution – sponsored by The Edge Hub
- Alan Raw – Koru Consulting
- Brian Cammack – Hull Truck Theatre
- Evalynne Charmer – Child Hypnotherapy Institute
Innovator – sponsored by the University of Hull Business School
- Wayne Key – Key Campers & Key Racking
- Simon Jones – Top 30 Under 30
Mentor
- Lisa Harvey – Diony Creative
- Joe Bannister – Cloud Design Box
- John Cuss – Hudgell Solicitors
Team Impact < 10 People
- HEYMIND – Humber Peer Support Team
- Hudgell Solicitors
- Cloud Design Box
Team Impact >11 People – sponsored by Cobus Communications
- Sowden & Sowden
- Caremark
- Transwaste
Grit
- Kaylee Carver – Gymophobics
- Dawn Parker – Consortium Professional Recruitment
Manager
- James Emmett – Cloud Design Box
- Vicky Richardson – Hudgell Solicitors
- Paul Savage – Bonus Arena