A major highlight of the Examiner Business Awards is the announcement of the winner of the category for Business Person of the Year.

The prestigious prize, sponsored by law firm Chadwick Lawrence – also main sponsor for the event – recognises a business personality who has made a major contribution to his or her organisation and the well-being of the town.

Do you – or does someone you know – stand out from the crowd and inspire others? Do you or they stand out as an individual who has helped strengthen the reputation of the company – and the wider community? Do you or they exhibit the entrepreneurial drive and enthusiasm that sets them apart and inspires others to excellence?

Last year, the award went to Nick Brown, chairman of fleet management specialist FMG. The firm he built is the UK’s leading independent fleet performance improvement specialist, working with long-standing customers including DHL, Carlsberg and Royal Mail across its key service areas of fleet incident management and roadside repair and recovery management.

Jeremy Garside, managing partner at Chadwick Lawrence, said the firm was delighted to sponsor the award for Business Person of the Year once again.

He said: “As sponsors of the Examiner Business Awards for five consecutive years, we have seen how the event celebrates the people who continue to make the region a vibrant and diverse place to do business.

“The Business Person of the Year Award highlights an individual who has made an outstanding contribution not only to the success of their own company but also the Kirklees area. The award recognises and rewards both determination and achievement.

“Chadwick Lawrence is a key player in bringing local businesses together. As an active member of the Yorkshire business community, we attribute much of our success to the local profile we’ve worked hard to build. This constant interaction with the region’s businesses means we understand the issues facing companies based in Yorkshire and are ideally placed to help.

“From humble beginnings in Victorian Dewsbury, we have continually grown and developed over 160 years to become recognised in the 21st century as one of the county’s top legal practices – making us the perfect sponsor for Business Person of The Year.”