HUNDREDS of business people from across the region gathered in York last night for the 27th annual Press Business Awards which saw a global innovator from Rillington take the top crown.

The black tie event, hosted at York Racecourse, saw businesses awarded trophies in ten categories, before one of the winners was named Press Business of the Year.

The awards are one of the pinnacle events of York Business Week, and welcomed finalists from across North and East Yorkshire as well as York.

This year’s top accolade was presented to Ellis Patents which had won the Business Innovation of the Year title earlier in the evening.

The Rillington business, which employs a team of 70, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of cable cleats, which are used to secure electrical cables in infrastructure and building projects around the world.

The judges said they felt Ellis could have been a strong contender in numerous categories on the night, proving itself not only as a inspiring innovator but a successful exporter, a responsible employer, and an industry and community champion, all led by a an inspiring personality.

The category winners were as follows:

lSmall Business of the Year - Cuffs & Co

lNew Business of the Year - Picture News

lSocially Responsible Business of the Year - Brass Castle Brewery

lEmployer of the Year - Catalyst IT Solutions

lLarge Business of the Year - Autohorn Fleet Services

lBusiness Personality of the Year - Charles Corner, Malton Laser

lBusiness Innovation of the Year - Ellis Patents

lFamily Business of the Year - Julie Dodsworth

lRetail, Tourism & Leisure Business of the Year - Scott’s Fish & Chips

lExporter of the Year - Damson Global

lPress Business of the Year - Ellis Patents

* See Wednesday’s York Press for our 12-page Souvenir Supplement, with pictures from the night and profiles on our winners.