THE shortlist for The Press Business Awards 2017 is being announced this week.

After welcoming scores of entries from across York, North and East Yorkshire, the judges have whittled down a shortlist of three contenders in each of the ten categories.

The finalists will be announced online and in The Press on Wednesday in the Business Weekly supplement.

For more than a quarter of a century The Press Business Awards have recognised the achievements of all kinds of businesses; large and small, across all kinds of different sectors and in various areas of best practice.

Now in their 27th year, the awards have always told tales of determination and devotion, of overcoming challenges and seeking opportunities, and have introduced us to the people behind the success stories.

Last year we introduced three new categories – Business Innovation of the Year, sponsored by the University of York; Socially Responsible Business of the Year, sponsored by York St John University; and Employer of the Year, sponsored by JWP Creers, all of which return for 2017. They join the list of New Business, Family Business, Large Business and Small Business of the Year, alongside our Tourism, Retail and Leisure award and Business Personality of the Year.

The awards evening, on November 23 at York Racecourse, will also see an overall Press Business of the Year trophy given to one of the earlier winners on the night.

We are delighted to welcome back BBC broadcaster Colin Hazelden to act as our Master of Ceremonies for the event, as we work alongside our other sponsors Shepherd Group, Hethertons Solicitors, York Science Park, York Racecourse and Lupton Fawcett.