NO-ONE could miss the sheer delight of the CIDA team when they were told they had won.

And Keith Evans, managing director of The Creative Industries Development Agency, was quick to praise his young team who he said were all local graduates with passion, intelligence and commitment. "You couldn’t ask for more," he said.

CIDA was formed in 2000 as part of the Huddersfield Creative Town Initiative. It helps develop viable and vibrant businesses and communities through creativity and innovation.

Over the past 10 years, CIDA has provided business mentoring, networking and training opportunities to more than 4,000 creative enterprises across the region – more than half of them in Huddersfield and the Kirklees area.

CIDA’s track record in supporting creative firms, adding: "They do exactly what it says on the tin".

CIDA has won plaudits from the Arts Council for its work in the region to further the new knowledge-based creative and digital industries.

Keith said: "It’s a lovely surprise. We have worked very hard over the last 10 years without a lot of recognition in the region. The most important thing is that over those 10 years we have supported thousands of young people to help get them into work and to help start some of them in their own businesses. We are delighted."

Also nominated in this category were The Engine Room and The Textile Centre of Excellence.