AN ENTERPRISE with plans “to do something enormous” took top honours in the New Business of the Year category.

The winner was Allies, which builds and expands ecommerce businesses,using a “growth formula”, a set of tools and processes.

Founder Ryan Atkins, who is a previous winner at The Press Business Awards in the former Young Entrepreneur category and as a director of digital agency The Distance, which won the New Business title in 2012, said this was the first time he had been on the stage with the whole team behind him.

He said Allies partnered businesses with entrepreneurs, adding: “We are trying to do something enormous, we have huge ambitions.”

It also emerged that there was a family link between the winner and another of the finalists, as Tony Atkins, of Saksons Interiors, is Ryan’s father. The audience was told each had been supporting the other to win.

The judges said this was a difficult choice because the finalists were so different and were such strong contenders.

But they gave the award to Allies because of founder Ryan Atkins’ immense ambition and passion for his new business model, based on creating ecommerce businesses in partnership with trusted experts in a number of different sectors, with “incredible commitment to each idea and making them a success backed by his technological prowess, creativity and marketing expertise”.

They said Saksons Interiors was a great partnership of two experienced individuals committed to quality customer service, true craftsmanship and quality products in luxury interiors.

At Ainsty Ales Brewery sole trader Andy Herrington had built up a great brand and product, and was behind the Copmanthorpe beer festival, Coptoberfest.