KIRKLEES companies scooped a string of awards at an event celebrating enterprise in Yorkshire.

Huddersfield University vice-chancellor Prof Bob Cryan – who was himself named Business Person of 2009 at the Examiner Business Awards – was a keynote speaker at the Yorkshire Enterprise and Diversity Awards held at the university.

He told a large audience of business people about some of the cutting-edge scientific research taking place at the university and laid stress on the links that the institution forged with enterprise in the region.

“We have a variety of ways in which we are able to work with companies – from student placements and continuing professional development programmes to joint research projects and access to our facilities, equipment and skilled people,” he said.

The vice-chancellor went on to outline the scale of the university’s involvement with regional enterprise. Its current continued professional development programme with external organisations is worth some £6.5m.

The Enterprise and Diversity Awards are staged annually by the life-long learning and employment organisation ATL, which aims to boost participation by a wide range of minority groups.

The Huddersfield event was the 11th annual awards ceremony and one of five held in the region.

A total of 25 awards were handed out, including Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, New Business of the Year and Diverse Business of the Year.

Young Business of Year: Liversedge-based, AS Fabrications (UK) Ltd; managing director Mick Fortune.

Outstanding female entrepreneur: Salma Laher, of Salma’s Hair & Beauty Academy, Dewsbury.

International Business of Year: Global Components (UK) Ltd, of Heckmondwike; directors Kamran Aslam and Ifan Aslam.

Business of Year: Tubzee Ltd, Halifax-based ice cream makers; executive directors Khalid Mahmood and Liaquat Ali.

Diverse Business of Year: Aroosa Beauty UK Ltd, of Fartown; director Shabana Begum.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mohammed Rafiq, managing director of Kozeesleep Beds, Dewsbury.