Local businesses gathered at The Craiglands Hotel on Wednesday 9th October for the highly anticipated launch of the Ilkley Business Awards 2025.
The event unveiled a refreshed line-up of award categories, promising an exciting competition for businesses in the LS29 area.
This year sees the introduction of the "Best Café" category, replacing the previous "Food and Drink" award. Other hospitality businesses such as bars and restaurants will now compete in the "Best B2C Business" category, alongside retailers and other consumer-facing enterprises.
Another key change is the replacement of the "Established Business" award with the "Best Long Serving Staff Member" award. Jos Mountcastle of JCM Website Design, a member of the awards committee, explained, "This new category allows businesses to recognise and celebrate the dedication and commitment of their valued employees. It’s great to see that last year's 'Established Business' award winner, Esscroft Private Nursery, has returned as a sponsor of this new award."
Ellen Ogley, Manager of Esscroft Private Nursery, attended the launch and shared her enthusiasm: "Winning the award last year meant so much to us as a family-run business. It was a real testament to our 30 years of providing childcare in the LS29 area and solidified our position as an established business in the community."
Julia Forester of TaxAssist Ilkley, founder and chair of the Ilkley Business Awards, added: “Last year we introduced the 'Side Hustle' category, which received a fantastic response, and we're excited to have it again this year. Young entrepreneur Max Harford from MaxFlydrones won the 2024 award, and it brought great exposure to his venture.
“We encourage all budding entrepreneurs in LS29 operating a side hustle to enter. A few category descriptions have been tweaked, like the Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer awards, so be sure to check the criteria when applying to ensure you're in the correct category.”
The full list of categories for the 2025 awards is:
Best Boss
Best Rising Star
Best New Business
Best Hair & Beauty
Best Professional Services Business
Best Side Hustle Business
Best Health & Wellbeing Business
Best Leisure & Tourism Business
Best Long Serving Staff Member
Best Café Business
Best B2C Business
Best B2B Business
Committee member, David Waterhouse from Whitetop Productions explained the judging process: “Our awards are judged by a panel of independent judges selected for their diverse and extensive business experience. We choose judges from outside the area to ensure unbiased evaluations based solely on the entries. This year, we are introducing three new judges. So, make sure your submission is detailed and compelling—it’s your chance to make a strong first impression!”
The launch event saw strong interest in sponsorship opportunities. The committee are thrilled to have Ilkley BID and Your Ilkley Radio on board as joint Headline Sponsors! Both organisations are incredible champions of local businesses, consistently providing support and resources to help them thrive. With their commitment to the Ilkley business community, they are the perfect partners to help celebrate the achievements of the LS29 businesses.
There is still one fantastic category sponsorship available: "Best Side Hustle". This is a brilliant opportunity to align your brand with the entrepreneurial spirit and support those building businesses alongside their day jobs. Businesses interested in this or any other sponsorship options, including prominent logo display during the awards dinner, are encouraged to contact the committee at hello@ilkleybusinessawards.co.uk.
Committee member, Caz Stewart from Ideal Extraction Ltd, emphasised the broader impact of the event: "The awards not only allow us to stage a fantastic celebration of local businesses but also provide a platform to promote all the fantastic enterprises in the LS29 area.
Businesses registered in the LS29 area, including Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Addingham, and Menston, are eligible to enter. "We have made the entry process even more simple this year! It will all be online through Survey Monkey," said Caz. "Thank you to the Ilkley BID for letting us use their account for this."
Committee member Debra Hawkshaw of Bathe of Wharfedale expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming event: "We're excited to be launching these awards and look forward to the ceremony, which takes place on Friday 7th March 2025. Tickets for the awards dinner, priced at £59 each, will go on sale online on Friday 18th October.
To access the online entry form or to buy tickets visit the website: ilkleybusinessawards.co.uk, entries close: midnight Monday 6th January 2025