The Awards

Yorkshireman / Woman of the Year
This will honour the Yorkshireman or woman who in the last twelve months has done most to promote the interests and image of the Yorkshire countryside and who embodies the characteristics of the county.
Sponsored by Skipton Building Society

Lifetime Achievement Award
Success in the countryside can take many years, even a lifetime, to achieve. This award will honour the men and women who, often with little reward or recognition outside their own small circle, have dedicated themselves to enhancing the life, traditions, crafts or environment of the Yorkshire countryside over many years.
Sponsored by Coutts

Entrepreneur of the Year
This will recognise the business person who has done most to either create or develop a rural business, regardless of size. The judges will be looking for solid success, sound management, enterprise, innovation, sustainability and a wholehearted commitment to the rural economy.
Sponsored by Clarion Solicitors LLP

Green Business of the Year
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing us all and everyone needs to play their part in combating it. This award will go to the rural business which has done most to clearly demonstrate its own outstanding commitment to minimising its environmental impact, including reducing water usage, but also promoting sustainability through ways such as managing and reducing waste, cutting its energy demands, controlling its transport needs, and helping and encouraging others to go green through an environmentally responsible procurement policy.
Supported by Yorkshire Forward

Restoration Award
This will recognise a project, public or private, completed within the twelve months prior to nominations closing, which has saved or brought back into use a rural building which was at risk of demolition, collapse or decay.
Sponsored by Dalesman

Rural Action Yorkshire Award
This award will go to the voluntary project which has done most to improve the quality of life, welfare or cohesion of its community. The winning project, which might be social, educational or provide new facilities or services, may have been initiated by an individual,
individuals or an organised club or group but will have captured the imagination and involvement of local people and served to bring the community together. Ideally it will have been driven from within the area in which it takes place and meet a real local need.
Sponsored by Allied Westminster

Food and Drink Producer of the Year
Open to all food and drink producers with a staff of less than 50. The judges will be looking for businesses which are either primary growers taking their output through to a finished product ready for retail or those which champion the use of regional ingredients in their products and help to sustain the local economy by providing a market for growers in the county and diversified employment for the rural workforce.
Supported by Yorkshire Forward

Environmental Project Award
This is open to any project of any size, completed within the twelve months prior to nominations closing, undertaken by a group, organisation or individual - public or private sector - which has enhanced the landscape, conservation or biodiversity of its area.
Sponsored by Northern Gas Networks

Reception Sponsor is Baker Tilly

Click here to download a nomination form