Heavyweight politician Lord Mandelson is set to speak at this year's Hull Daily Mail Business Awards.
The peer, one of the most influential figures of the New Labour era, will share his thoughts on the future of East Yorkshire with guests at a prestigious prize-giving ceremony at the Willerby Manor Hotel.
Finalists for the awards, an annual highlight of Hull's business calendar, have been announced today.
Hull Daily Mail editor Neil Hodgkinson said: "I'm delighted to see so many excellent entries for this year's awards.
"We have an exceptionally strong shortlist of deserving companies.
"It really goes to show the strength and depth of our business offering in East Yorkshire."The shortlistTraining and DevelopmentCategory sponsor: University of Hull• Trident: A global packaging firm headquartered in Hull, the company impressed with its structured staff training programme.• GF Smith: The paper company has given all of its staff a chance to train for half a day this year and worked hard to define career development paths.
Exporter of the YearCategory sponsor: Associated British Ports• GF Smith: The Hull firm has been pushing into new markets all over the world, with a 70 per cent growth in overseas sales in 18 months.• Cranswick: A meat producer, the firm grew exports by 10 per cent last year and they now make up a fifth of its turnover.
Community InvolvementCategory sponsor: Arco• Armadillo Self Storage: Although only a small firm, it tirelessly supports a wide range of charities with donations and voluntary work.• Gosschalks: The law practice's employees volunteer for 800 hours annually and it provides free support and advice worth about £70,000 a year.
Innovation and TechnologyCategory sponsor: BP Chemicals• Eon Visual Media: A marketing app the firm designed for Smith and Nephew helped boost sales of its Allevyn Life wound dressings by more than 100 per cent.• Floreon: Owners are developing a cutting-edge bioplastic. Made from plant matter, it offers a greener alternative to traditional oil-based products.
Green Award:Category sponsor: Intertech• Hall Renewables: Taking advantage of cash incentives supporting the Government's green agenda, the business has taken on 85 staff since its launch in 2012.• Martin Dixon: The company is a decades-old market leader in mechanical and gas services but has opened five new branches and employed 30 staff on the back of renewables work.
Small Business of the YearCategory sponsor: Smailes Goldie• Bio-D: An ethical laundry products firm, Bio-D has driven up turnover and profits and is expecting 30 per cent growth this year.• Wold Top Brewery: The award-winning ale producer has seen soaring sales along with 90 per cent export growth and is now set to make its plant one-and-a-half times bigger.
Medium Business of the YearCategory sponsor: HSBC• Strawberry: A long-running design firm, it is in the country's top 50 agencies and has just launched spin-off arm StrawberryToo.• Kingston Joinery: Built up during the recession, the fittings business has just completed a £500,000 contract at York Racecourse. It already has £1.5m of work lined up for next year.
Large Business of the YearCategory sponsor: Gosschalks• Trident: The packaging giant has seen turnover rise by 600 per cent to £40m since 2005, helped by a bold international growth strategy and booming digital business.• City Health Care Partnership: A community interest company, its services help minimise the need for hospital care by treating people in the community.
Employee of the YearCategory sponsor: St Stephen's Shopping Centre• Jade Woodfield: The designer joined marketing agency Strawberry aged 18 and has risen fast, managing a work experience programme and supporting key clients.• Aaliyah Marritt: Employed by Shield Security, Aaliyah is a key figure at the tender age of 17. She plays a vital organisational role in sending staff where they are needed.
Entrepreneur of the YearCategory sponsor: Sewell Group• Tapan Mahapatra: Already a top breast surgeon in Hull hospitals, Tapan fancied a new challenge. He now runs hit fine-dining Indian restaurant Tapasya in Beverley Road, Hull.• Adam Palmer: Enterprising farmer Adam runs Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil from the heart of the Wolds, producing an ingredient prized by Michelin-starred chefs.
Start-up Business of the YearCategory sponsors: Horncastle Group and MKM Building Supplies• Atom Brewing Company: Launched by Allan Rice in January using life savings and a bank loan, the brewing company's unusual recipes are taking Britain by storm. • Panda Splash: Based in its Bamboo HQ, the marketing agency is seeking to make business more fun. It turned over £150,000 in its first 20 months.
Young Achiever of the YearCategory sponsor: Hull College Group• Katie Norman: A University of Hull science graduate, Katie is on a mission to make learning fun. Her children's party business Lab Rascals has won national recognition.• Jade Woodfield: 23-year-old Jade is one of design agency Strawberry's most trusted staff. The firm is so confident in her she is set to lead spin-off arm StrawberryToo.
Tourism and Hospitality AwardCategory sponsor: First Hull Trains• Raywell Hall and Country Lodge Park: After a £10m refurbishment, this peaceful holiday getaway has secured 95 per cent occupancy rates. It is now hoping to expand further.• One Stop Golf: A revitalised Hull driving range, the centre is set to pull in 100,000 visitors in 2014, up from 45,000 when it launched five years ago.
Lifetime ContributionCategory sponsor: KC• A special award, there is no shortlist or entry process for this category. Instead, judges will choose a winner who has made an impact on the business scene through years of hard work.
Drinks at the ceremony are sponsored by Jelf and paper is provided by GF Smith.
Exporter of the YearCategory sponsor: Associated British Ports• GF Smith: The Hull firm has been pushing into new markets all over the world, with a 70 per cent growth in overseas sales in 18 months.• Cranswick: A meat producer, the firm grew exports by 10 per cent last year and they now make up a fifth of its turnover.
Community InvolvementCategory sponsor: Arco• Armadillo Self Storage: Although only a small firm, it tirelessly supports a wide range of charities with donations and voluntary work.• Gosschalks: The law practice's employees volunteer for 800 hours annually and it provides free support and advice worth about £70,000 a year.
Innovation and TechnologyCategory sponsor: BP Chemicals• Eon Visual Media: A marketing app the firm designed for Smith and Nephew helped boost sales of its Allevyn Life wound dressings by more than 100 per cent.• Floreon: Owners are developing a cutting-edge bioplastic. Made from plant matter, it offers a greener alternative to traditional oil-based products.
Green Award:Category sponsor: Intertech• Hall Renewables: Taking advantage of cash incentives supporting the Government's green agenda, the business has taken on 85 staff since its launch in 2012.• Martin Dixon: The company is a decades-old market leader in mechanical and gas services but has opened five new branches and employed 30 staff on the back of renewables work.
Small Business of the YearCategory sponsor: Smailes Goldie• Bio-D: An ethical laundry products firm, Bio-D has driven up turnover and profits and is expecting 30 per cent growth this year.• Wold Top Brewery: The award-winning ale producer has seen soaring sales along with 90 per cent export growth and is now set to make its plant one-and-a-half times bigger.
Medium Business of the YearCategory sponsor: HSBC• Strawberry: A long-running design firm, it is in the country's top 50 agencies and has just launched spin-off arm StrawberryToo.• Kingston Joinery: Built up during the recession, the fittings business has just completed a £500,000 contract at York Racecourse. It already has £1.5m of work lined up for next year.
Large Business of the YearCategory sponsor: Gosschalks• Trident: The packaging giant has seen turnover rise by 600 per cent to £40m since 2005, helped by a bold international growth strategy and booming digital business.• City Health Care Partnership: A community interest company, its services help minimise the need for hospital care by treating people in the community.
Employee of the YearCategory sponsor: St Stephen's Shopping Centre• Jade Woodfield: The designer joined marketing agency Strawberry aged 18 and has risen fast, managing a work experience programme and supporting key clients.• Aaliyah Marritt: Employed by Shield Security, Aaliyah is a key figure at the tender age of 17. She plays a vital organisational role in sending staff where they are needed.
Entrepreneur of the YearCategory sponsor: Sewell Group• Tapan Mahapatra: Already a top breast surgeon in Hull hospitals, Tapan fancied a new challenge. He now runs hit fine-dining Indian restaurant Tapasya in Beverley Road, Hull.• Adam Palmer: Enterprising farmer Adam runs Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil from the heart of the Wolds, producing an ingredient prized by Michelin-starred chefs.
Start-up Business of the YearCategory sponsors: Horncastle Group and MKM Building Supplies• Atom Brewing Company: Launched by Allan Rice in January using life savings and a bank loan, the brewing company's unusual recipes are taking Britain by storm. • Panda Splash: Based in its Bamboo HQ, the marketing agency is seeking to make business more fun. It turned over £150,000 in its first 20 months.
Young Achiever of the YearCategory sponsor: Hull College Group• Katie Norman: A University of Hull science graduate, Katie is on a mission to make learning fun. Her children's party business Lab Rascals has won national recognition.• Jade Woodfield: 23-year-old Jade is one of design agency Strawberry's most trusted staff. The firm is so confident in her she is set to lead spin-off arm StrawberryToo.
Tourism and Hospitality AwardCategory sponsor: First Hull Trains• Raywell Hall and Country Lodge Park: After a £10m refurbishment, this peaceful holiday getaway has secured 95 per cent occupancy rates. It is now hoping to expand further.• One Stop Golf: A revitalised Hull driving range, the centre is set to pull in 100,000 visitors in 2014, up from 45,000 when it launched five years ago.
Lifetime ContributionCategory sponsor: KC• A special award, there is no shortlist or entry process for this category. Instead, judges will choose a winner who has made an impact on the business scene through years of hard work.
Drinks at the ceremony are sponsored by Jelf and paper is provided by GF Smith.
• Tickets to the awards ceremony on Thursday, November 20 will be released first to finalists before going on general sale. Call the editor's PA Tracey Short on 01482 315350 for more information.
