The winners of the Examiner Business Awards 2015 will be announced tonight in a glittering ceremony at the John Smith's Stadium.

The 10th annual awards, hosted by BBC Look North's Harry Gration, will celebrate the best in business across Huddersfield, attended by leadiing figures from the business community and hundreds of guests helping to celebrate outstanding enterprise and achievement.

We're live from the stadium to announce this year's winners and all the excitement from the awards.

Show your support for our nominees and share pictures of your night at the awards on Twitter by using the hashtag #EBA15

Thank you and goodnight!

That’s all from me at the Examiner Business Awards 2015 - thank you to all our wonderful guests for creating a truly electric atmosphere - and congratulations again to our winners!

Make sure you pick up a copy of the Examiner tomorrow for all the highlights, winners and pictures from a fantastic evening.

A final tweet from Examiner executive editor Andrew Jackson:

Goodnight!

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There's a lot of love in the room!

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A fantastic finale

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And that's a wrap!

The Huddersfield Examiner Business Awards 2015 are over - a huge congratulations to our wonderful winners and nominees.

What a night!

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Home pride

Huddersfield is our spiritual home... we’re a proud Huddersfield company and supported by Huddersfield as a town. - Richard Butterfield

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Business Person of the Year: Richard Butterfield!

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Final award! Chadwick Lawrence and Stafflex Business Person of the Year

We’ve reached the final award!

There are no nominees for this award - just one winner.

Drum roll please!

Yorkshire Regiment freedom parade, Huddersfield town centre. Regimental drummers play in Market place
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Business of the Year: Abzorb!

Congratulations Abzorb!

Faruk Amin, Sales Director of Abzorb, Armytage Road, Brighouse.
Faruk Amin, Sales Director of Abzorb, Armytage Road, Brighouse.

A telecoms provider in Brighouse is helping to transform Kirklees into one of the UK’s most advanced digital locations.

Abzorb, based at Armytage Road, works with leading names such as BT and Vodafone to provide businesses with a single point of contact for all their telecoms and network needs.

The company, which has 62 employees, services 2,500 clients UK-wide, of which 1,300 are based in Yorkshire. Clients range from Huddersfield Town and SimplyBiz to University College London and the Campanile Hotel Group.

Abzorb has been at the forefront of telecoms for more than 20 years – encompassing mobile and fixed line phones, internet, vehicle tracking and cloud solutions.

It also has a partnership programme with 300 resellers who sell services on its behalf.

It has partnerships with the likes of BT, Vodafone, O2, Apple, Microsoft and Virgin Media as well as systems manufacturers such as Panasonic and Cisco.

The Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme aims to deliver superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017 and provides grants of up to £3,000 to SMEs. Abzorb is the fifth largest BDUK supplier in West Yorkshire.

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Penultimate award - Fantastic Media Business of the Year

The nominees are:

Taylor and Lodge (Huddersfield) Ltd

Taylor and Lodge on Albert Street in Lockwood
Taylor and Lodge on Albert Street in Lockwood

Abzorb

Faruk Amin, Sales Director of Abzorb, Armytage Road, Brighouse.
Faruk Amin, Sales Director of Abzorb, Armytage Road, Brighouse.

Lifterz Ltd


Read more about them here

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International Business of the Year: Briton Engineering Developments Ltd!

Congratulations Briton Engineering Developments!

The world's largest synthetic ski slope in Ankara, turkey - built by Holmfirth-based Briton Engineering
The world's largest synthetic ski slope in Ankara, turkey - built by Holmfirth-based Briton Engineering

There’s no business like snow business for ski slope specialist Briton Engineering Developments Ltd.

The company, based at Scholes, Holmfirth, was established in 1979 to work in the snow sports industry manufacturing ski lifts as well as working in other mainstream industries.

In 1989, the firm was heavily involved in the construction of a new ski resort at Ben Nevis and in 1993 it began developing its synthetic Snowflex ski slope surface.

Its efforts were rewarded in 1990 with a contract for the 6,000sq metres Søhøjlandet Snowsports centre in Denmark, which included the creation of features such as moguls, jumps and a half pipe previously seen only on mountain snow.

For the past 20 years, Briton has been exclusively involved in designing and building all-season snow sport facilities for venues including theme parks and water parks, summer and winter tourist resorts, shopping complexes and fitness centres.

Snowflex has been installed in a variety of locations across the world, including Noeux Les Mines in France, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA and Altinoran in Ankara, Turkey.

Business development director Terry Di Stasi said the Turkish contract saw Briton build the world’s largest synthetic ski slope to date The 10,700sq metres slope is the anchor attraction for a major development comprising apartments and a leisure facility that includes a cable car system, wall climbing, ice rink, gardens, shops and restaurants. The project was completed and handed over to the client in August.

Last year, Briton completed a “significant” slope for the YMCA in The Rockies, Colorado. “It was like taking coals to Newcastle,” said Mr Di Stasi. “The success of this facility meant the client had covered its construction and development costs within 12 weeks of opening.”

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Well done guys!

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Now: HSBC International Business of the Year

The nominees are:

Briton Engineering Developments Ltd

The world's largest synthetic ski slope in Ankara, turkey - built by Holmfirth-based Briton Engineering
The world's largest synthetic ski slope in Ankara, turkey - built by Holmfirth-based Briton Engineering

Bespoke Stairlifts Limited

Bespoke Stylists' Gavin Finn (left) and David Burns
Bespoke Stylists' Gavin Finn (left) and David Burns

Open2

Matt Burtonwood (right) and Ben Williams of open2, 3m Buckley Innovation Centre, Huddersfield.
Matt Burtonwood (right) and Ben Williams of open2, 3m Buckley Innovation Centre, Huddersfield.

Read more about them here

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SME of the Year: Elder Studios Ltd!

Congratulations Elder Studios!

Childrens Code Club at The Media Centre, Huddersfield - Elder Studios and Media Centre staff with children at the club.
Childrens Code Club at The Media Centre, Huddersfield - Elder Studios and Media Centre staff with children at the club.

A software engineering specialist is helping clients keep their businesses running smoothly.

Elder Studios, basad at the Media Centre in Huddersfield, was launched three years ago by Chris Gillespie and Alex Wright “to create a business where they and other software developers would want to work”.

Within a few months, they had taken on their first employee. Three years on, they employ 21 staff providing services and expertise over the entire software “life-cycle” from planning and integration, infrastructure and testing to maintenance and support.

Current clients include a £1bn turnover telecoms provider and a rapidly expanding meat producer which has recently added wholesale and e-commerce channels to its business and is set to hit turnover of £10m this year.

Over the past 12 months, Elder Studios has been building links with Huddersfield University’s school of computing to deliver an advanced web programming module for final year computing students.

Spokeswoman Rebecca Robson said: “We are incredibly proud of how far we have come in the last 12 months.”

She added: “We believe that the quality of our work drive the growth of our business and as a result of our continued success, we have hired staff year-on-year.”

Rebecca said: “Our developers are the most vital part of our company. We depend on them and on their talent to keep our business moving forward.

“We promote a forward-thinking productive ethos throughout the company and offer our staff many benefits.”

Elder Studios plans to expand the team further next year – and build on its partnership with the university.

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More fabulous selfies

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Next - Walker Singleton SME of the Year

The nominees are:

Elder Studios Ltd

Childrens Code Club at The Media Centre, Huddersfield - Elder Studios and Media Centre staff with children at the club.
Childrens Code Club at The Media Centre, Huddersfield - Elder Studios and Media Centre staff with children at the club.

ProVu Communications

ROKT Climbing Gym

Expansion plans for Rokt Climbing Gym, Brighouse - Euan Noble (left) and Leigh Topping, co-directors of Rokt, pictured in front of the planned expansion site.
Expansion plans for Rokt Climbing Gym, Brighouse - Euan Noble (left) and Leigh Topping, co-directors of Rokt, pictured in front of the planned expansion site.

Read more about them here

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Young Business Person of the Year: Amy Wray - Applegate Properties!

Congratulations Amy!

Amy Wray
Amy Wray

Amy Wray launched Applegate Properties in 2010 from a spare bedroom, with £600 in savings, an old laptop and a secondhand camera.

Today the property sales and lettings business has five full-time staff and three part-time workers and operates from well-appointed offices at Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth.

Researching the market back in 2010, Amy found that the biggest reasons for people leaving their estate agent was lack of communication and poor customer service.

By focusing on communicating with clients and offering high standards of service, Applegate Properties draws 70% of its new clients each month from recommendation.

Amy has won a number of awards, including Young Businesswoman of the Year in 2013 and Property Business of the Year in 2014 with networking group Forward Ladies. She was a finalist in the Sunday Times and The Times Property Manager of the Year Awards in 2014 and in the Sue Ryder Women in Business Awards and Forward Ladies SME Business of the Year Awards for 2015.

Amy dedicated her successes to the team of eight staff who, she says, provide the driving force for growing the company.

In the past 12 months, Applegate has achieved the fastest average sales time in comparison with its competitors while in February the company invested in software to improve its social media performance.

Amy’s plans for the next 12 months include increasing its lettings portfolio.

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We're back - the next award is Kirklees College Young Business Person of the Year

The nominees are:

Dan Bamforth - Towndoor Limited

Dan Bamforth of Towndoor
Dan Bamforth of Towndoor

James Howard - Yorkshire Payments

James Howard, Yorkshire Payments, Thornhill Brigg Mills, Brighouse.
James Howard, Yorkshire Payments, Thornhill Brigg Mills, Brighouse.

Amy Wray - Applegate Properties

Amy Wray
Amy Wray

Read more about them here

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In pictures: the story so far

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Bonus prize: Selfie with Harry Gration!

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Raising money for Kirkwood Hospice

This year’s charity raffle is raising money for Kirkwood Hospice - thanks in advance for our guests’ donations!

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Don't you lot scrub up well!

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Dinner time!

Dinner is now being served (and smells amazing!) - the awards will continue in a while.

In the meantime, keep sending your awards selfies to us via Twitter using the hashtag #EBA15!

Congratulations again to all the winners so far.

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Innovation and Enterprise Award: Control F1

Congratulations Control F1!

Co founder and Technical director, Carl Howarth (front left) with production development director, Dale Reed (front right) with the team at Control F1, Bates Mill, Huddersfield.
Co founder and Technical director, Carl Howarth (front left) with production development director, Dale Reed (front right) with the team at Control F1, Bates Mill, Huddersfield.

It’s a digital technology company with big ambitions.

Control F1, based at Bates Mill, Colne Road, is working with market-leading clients such as the RAC and Travis Perkins to keep vehicles on the road. Its software service include web application and app development, enterprise cloud applications, telematics, “big data” consultancy and technical support.

In the past 12 months, Control F1 has more than doubled its turnover, secured external investment, landed its biggest client ever and has a blue-chip company take on one of its homegrown products.

The company has also doubled in size – moving into offices at Bates Mill to accommodate 16 staff, about 16 contractors and two non-executive directors.

Among its successes, the RAC approached Control F1 for help in integrating telematic solution RAC Advance into its core business. RAC Advance provides motorists with a “magic box” to monitor driving behaviour and warn drivers about faults before cars break down.

It is also used to track commercial fleets.


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Winners everywhere!

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Next up: The University of Huddersfield Innovation and Enterprise Award

The nominees are:

Control F1

Co founder and Technical director, Carl Howarth (front left) with production development director, Dale Reed (front right) with the team at Control F1, Bates Mill, Huddersfield.
Co founder and Technical director, Carl Howarth (front left) with production development director, Dale Reed (front right) with the team at Control F1, Bates Mill, Huddersfield.

Wellhouse Leisure

David Elliott (centre), receives the Campervan of the Year Award for Wellhouse Leisure's Ford Terrier from Daniel Attwood (left), managing editor of MMM & Which Motorhome magazines, with Peter Vaughan, head of the judging panel
David Elliott (centre), receives the Campervan of the Year Award for Wellhouse Leisure's Ford Terrier from Daniel Attwood (left), managing editor of MMM & Which Motorhome magazines, with Peter Vaughan, head of the judging panel

The Flood Company Commercial Ltd

Luke (left) and Tony Ruddiman, directors of The Flood Company Commercial Ltd, Kaffir Road, Edgerton
Luke (left) and Tony Ruddiman, directors of The Flood Company Commercial Ltd, Kaffir Road, Edgerton

Read more about them here

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Employer of the Year: Reliance Precision Ltd!

Congratulations Reliance Precision!

Reliance Precision Ltd Managing Director Andrew Wright with apprentices Bradley Jessop, David Black and Thomas Broom - Rowley Mills, Penistone Road, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield.
Reliance Precision Ltd Managing Director Andrew Wright with apprentices Bradley Jessop, David Black and Thomas Broom - Rowley Mills, Penistone Road, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield.

An engineering firm looking forward to its centenary in 2020 has put apprentice training at the heart of its business.

Reliance Precision, based at Lepton, has finalised a five-year business plan taking the Lepton-based firm up to that milestone date.

Marketing manager Kathryn Hullah said: “It has been a catalyst for thinking about what sort of organisation with what sort of people we want to be by the time we reach our 100 year anniversary. This plan is about who we are, what skills and capabilities and aptitudes we need to succeed at the challenging extremes of engineering.”

Key to its future is investment in apprenticeships. Said Kathryn: “Apprentices are essential to balance the age profile of the company, building our next generation of specialist engineering and manufacturing teams and developing our future managers and company directors.”

The firm now has 17 apprentices at its Rowley Mills site – 10% of the workforce. Engineering activity covered by its apprentices has also widened from a focus on specialist machining skills to include broader engineering skills in areas like estimating, metrology and production engineering.

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Smiles all round!

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Now: Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd Employee of the Year Award

The nominees are:

Suma Wholefoods

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls visits Suma Wholefoods, Elland. Trying some Divine Chocolate, l to r, Mavis Adugyamfi of cocoa producers Kuapa Kokoo of Ghana, Ed Balls, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Labour's parliamentary candidate for the Calder Valley and Mercy Zaah of Kuapa Kokoo.
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls visits Suma Wholefoods, Elland. Trying some Divine Chocolate, l to r, Mavis Adugyamfi of cocoa producers Kuapa Kokoo of Ghana, Ed Balls, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Labour's parliamentary candidate for the Calder Valley and Mercy Zaah of Kuapa Kokoo.

One 17 Architects and Interior Designers

ONE17 Design Armitage Bridge charity fund passes the £100,000 mark. Staff mark the occasion.
ONE17 Design Armitage Bridge charity fund passes the £100,000 mark. Staff mark the occasion.

Reliance Precision Ltd

Reliance Precision Ltd Managing Director Andrew Wright with apprentices Bradley Jessop, David Black and Thomas Broom - Rowley Mills, Penistone Road, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield.
Reliance Precision Ltd Managing Director Andrew Wright with apprentices Bradley Jessop, David Black and Thomas Broom - Rowley Mills, Penistone Road, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield.


Read more about them here


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Hear, hear!

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Employee of the Year: Sally Willis - Fantastic Media

Congratulations, Sally!

Sally Willis of Fantastic Media
Sally Willis of Fantastic Media

She’s been hailed as a fantastic asset to a Fantastic business.

Sally Willis joined Birstall-based integrated marketing agency Fantastic Media in 2013 as account manager and has quickly progressed to become a senior member of the team.

As head of client services, she’s responsible for managing the seven-strong client services team, looking after the daily and long-term needs of clients and developing strategic campaigns to meet and exceed expectations and objectives.

Her personable and professional manner has ensured the continued commitment from established clients and instilled confidence and excitement in new clients.

She is also keen to develop the agency through training and mentoring junior members of the organisation, encouraging team activities and raising funds for the Huddersfield Town Foundation.

Sally also invests in her own learning, recently enrolling on a personal development programme to improve on her management and leadership skills.

Her recent successes include delivering a successful e-commerce strategy for construction equipment supplier Deborah Services Ltd and securing Fantastic’s sponsorship of Barnsley FC – a two-year deal which sees Fantastic retain its standing as the club’s dedicated marketing agency.

Colleagues praise her as “trustworthy, passionate and determined” and say these traits come across at board meetings, client meetings and in the day-to-day office environment.

Beth Saville, account manager at Fantastic Media, said: “Sally is a fantastic role model and manager. She is approachable and always has an open door for staff to speak to her.”

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