A MANUFACTURER which ships its machinery around the world from its base in Elvington has been named York’s top business.

Sheppee International was the star of last night’s Press Business Awards, stealing the show with three awards, including the crown of Business Of The Year.

The £8.5 million turnover company also won the Dare To Export Award and the title of Large Business Of the Year.

The wins cement 2013 as a year of award success for Sheppee, which earlier this year was presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

The Sheppee brand is globally recognised in the glass container industry, with 95 per cent of its turnover coming from exporting its machinery for hotware handling.

The company has set up an office in China to take advantage of the expanding markets in China, Indonesia and Thailand, and recently began supplying the Australian market.

Last night also saw Patrick Shepherd, deputy chairman of the Shepherd Group and chairman of York Against Cancer, win the Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to business and charity. Each year the award is presented as a surprise to one unsuspecting guest on the night.

Mr Shepherd was honoured for the thousands he has raised for charity through many fundraisers, including not one, but two gruelling Lands End to John O’Groats cycle challenges.

He was described as a “greatly respected” figure in the Shepherd Group, knowing all the staff by their first names and taking a genuine interest in their well-being.

The Press Business Awards are now in their 23rd year, attracting about 350 guests to celebrate the achievements of businesses across York, North and East Yorkshire in 16 categories, including Think Green Business of the Year, Family Business of the Year and Business Personality.

The awards were presented to the winners by local category sponsors, with Colin Hazelden, television presenter from BBC East Midlands Today hosting the ceremony.

Steve Hughes, managing editor of The Press, said: “Our business awards continue to grow and that reflects York’s growing reputation as a city which encourages and nurtures enterprise.

“That spirit of enterprise shone through in the entries from a hugely diverse range of companies and the judges had a really difficult job to choose our finalists.

“They have all shown determination and creativity to thrive in difficult economic times and they deserve all the recognition they have received.”

The guest speaker was director, actor and playwright Marcus Romer, who drew on his experiences as artistic director of touring company Pilot Theatre to talk to guests about the importance of creativity in business.

Don’t miss The Press newspaper on Tuesday for a souvenir supplement, with more pictures and reports on the awards ceremony.

York Press: 2013 Press Business Awards winners