AMAZING PEOPLE DON'T JUST HAPPEN
Who captured Yorkshire's heart?
2022 YORKSHIRE CHOICE AWARDS
Its been a long time coming...
2 years ago the world stopped turning and so did our organisation, the Yorkshire Choice.
Having to cancel our event for 800 guests 2 days before it was planned to go ahead was one of the most stressful experiences founders Jo and Melanie have had to encounter.
But we stood proud to welcome over 700 guests to celebrate Yorkshire's achievements on 6th May. It was an emotional night for many a reason and the evening was awash with inspiration, emotion and the most amazing Yorkshire folk.
Of course, this was a double celebration as we finally got to give out in person the deserving awards for our 2020 winners - to see who won click here
So, who did Yorkshire choose as their 2022 winners?
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THE AWARDS
Congratulations to everyone nominated in 2022, you should all be extremely proud of yourselves.
AND THE WINNERS ARE...
New Starter Business of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Youbee Media
Feather & Fern
Hustle & Co Cafe
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Reet Yorkshire Food Ltd, Ripon
Reet Yorkshire Food was founded in Ripon North Yorkshire by Martin Bennett in May 2020 after being furloughed and subsequently made redundant. Martin brought on board a colleague, Mark Saunders, from his previous employer to work as Operations Manager.
They made their first batch of products in November 2020, when, unfortunately, they both contracted COVID. Martin spent six weeks in hospital, and sadly Mark passed away.
Martin is recovering from leukemia, which was discovered when he was treated for COVID. His determination and passion for the products he produces is helping Reet Yorkshire Food become a great success.
Independent Business of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Loafers Vinyl & Coffee
Sheer Bliss
Birdhouse Tea Company
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Evolve Psychology Services, Harrogate & Huddersfield
Evolve Psychology Services offer neurodevelopmental, expert witness and wider psychological assessments and psychological therapies. When COVID-19 impacted so many people’s mental health they continued to provide services for families and young people. Based in Harrogate and Huddersfield they work for courts and parole boards as well as immigration tribunals nationwide.
Recently they have been awarded an NHS contract to support the NHS in significantly reducing their waiting times for Neurodevelopmental (Autism and ADHD) assessments in Yorkshire for children aged 0-19 which again have been impacted by COVID-19.
Business Woman of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Gillian Askew
Jackie Crozier
Brogan Townsley Parker
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Farkhandra Hussain-Butt, Dewsbury
Farkhanda Hussain-Butt of Dewsbury is Sales and Marketing Director of Award Winning Shire Beds Limited. Fara’s product development strategy has resulted in the ultimate accolade in the industry for the company achieving Product of the Year at the National Bed Federation Awards.
Committed to supporting the sector from the very top right to the local community. She is on the West Yorkshire Mayoral Task Force, a governor at Kirklees college and Entrepreneur in Residence at Connect Yorkshire. Fara actively supports local causes such as St George’s Crypt, Leeds Big Sleep, demonstrating commitment to the industry and community at every level.
Business Man of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Paul Corcoran
Harrison Pinder
Joshua Sharp
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
James Thompson, Halifax
James is the proud owner of Pride & Provenance, Halifax and has been the visionary and driving force of the reinvention of business during lockdown ensuring it remained afloat. His hard work ensured all the team had jobs to return to and he made sure that their customers had regularly deliveries of wine, spirits, beer, cheese and charcuterie during lockdown.
James is always coming up with innovative ideas to keep the business running which was impacted when hospitality was forced to close during the pandemic. In November 2021 the business expanded and opened Pride & Provenance Markets.
Charitable Business of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Elite Pro Sports
Concrete Youth
Delifresh
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Moneyweb, Scarborough
The team at Moneyweb Scarborough have gone above and beyond in their charitable work in recent years raising over £40,000 for 7 different deserving charities, many of which are local. Recently, under covid restrictions Moneyweb followed in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg by embarking on an Around the World in 80 Days challenge in an attempt to fundraise for The Rainbow Centre in Scarborough, a charity supporting vulnerable people.
A collective team of around 25 members recreated Phileas’ famous adventure clocking up 24,901 miles (the circumference of the earth) between them through running, cycling, swimming and horseback. Their recent endeavour was collecting vital food produce that was essential in making up thousands of food parcels for those in need at Christmas.
Customer Service Award 2022
FINALISTS
Thorp Park Hotel & Spa
Landguard Pest Control
Wharfedale & Craven Mumbler
SPONSORED BY
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AND THE WINNER IS...
Daydream Baby, Hull
Kirsty of Daydream Baby Hull, was made redundant from her massage therapist job and decided to create a beautiful business for mums to bring their babies to learn massage techniques to help with problems new mums may struggle with.
She also made a safe place for these mums when they need it most. Feedback has been amazing and mums go on to have a long lasting friendship with others they have met.
When her little boy passed away age 3 months, this gave her the drive to help others make loving memories with their babies. Customers are a priority to Kirsty, she is on hand 24 hours to support her clients to give them a lifeline and allow them to ask advice off fellow mums while building the daydream baby network.
Inspirational Individual of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Emon Choudhury
Ryan Swain
Ben Moorhouse
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Safiya Saeed, Sheffield
Safiya is a community activist from Sheffield who works in schools and colleges, empowering, engaging, and enabling individuals from underrepresented communities. She works with women helping them find their voices against discrimination, engaging in activities to help with isolation, mental health, breaking down language barriers, and supporting their children at school.
Founder of Sisterhood Basketball group, a self-defence group for women, sexual exploitation for under age girls, and Big Brother Burgreave, a mentoring scheme “led by the youth, for the youth” that uses a buddy system to match up 17 and 18-year-olds with 11 to 16 year old for peer support and mentoring.
Giving the young black & ethnic groups resources and activities to steer away from knife crime and Anti-social behaviour.
In the Pandemic although Safiya has lost her father she continued to distribute food parcels and bought activity equipment for isolated families to maintain entertainment, and supporting families who's impacted by suicide.
Local Fundraiser of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Marcus Fox Richard Gunther Andrew Moore
Graham Wilson
Andy Daw
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Elliott Colby, Wakefield
Elliot Colby from Wakefield sadly lost his Dad in Aug 2020 after only 10 months been diagnosed with MND. Elliot was devastated but to help him physically and mentally he started running, then he set himself a personal challenge in 2021, 7in7 Mountains & Marathons in a year.
Elliot runs in his Dads cowboy hat and dressed up as his Dads favourite cowboy Clint Eastwood from The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Just one of his Dads favourite movies..
In a year Elliot has achieved the:
Ilkley half Marathon. London Marathon, Yorkshire Marathon, Birmingham half Marathon and The Great North Run. He has climbed the National Three Peaks and the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
He is determined to carry on to raise awareness and funds for MNDA in his Dads name Stephen Colby, his hero.
Volunteer of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Graham & Karen Porter
Yorkshire Scrubs
Homeless Street Angels
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Homeless Hampers, Leeds
Homeless Hampers can only make a difference with the amazing support and dedication from their wide volunteer base and donations from the local community. Aky and Tina Suryavansi started volunteering at Homeless Hampers in 2016 because they wanted to "give something back to society." The couple both donated a kidney to their son Akash, giving him the gift of life, after he was born prematurely with serious kidney problems.
Now undertaking weekly outreaches in Leeds, with volunteers distributing hundreds of meals, hot drinks, essentials such as toiletries, clothing, blankets and sleeping bags as well as providing food to Bradford shelters 4 days a week.
Homeless Hampers has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Tina and Aky. There were only a handful of volunteers when the couple started volunteering. Now there are just under 500 volunteers registered with the charity.
Young Achiever of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Henry Collett
Isaac Lawley
Sheyne Bowling
SPONSORED BY
AND THE WINNER IS...
Macy, Maya and Jackson Burrow, Pontefract
It’s devasting to know that your daddy is poorly, let alone that the illness he has doesn’t yet have a cure but that’s just what Macy, Maya and Jackson had to face when Rob was diagnosed with MND. The cruel condition has taken away their Dad’s mobility and ability to speak but they continue to be an inspirational lift, standing by Rob’s side. The children join him at events, fundraisers and recently in the extremely successful Rob Burrow MND Strictly Ball organised by his family.
Following in their dad’s footsteps in helping to raise awareness and funds for MND, they recently designed a unique set of charity Christmas cards to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Macy, Maya and Jackson are absolute inspirations.
Covid Hero of the Year 2022
FINALISTS
Roots of Yggdrasil CIC
Kelly McCarthy
Yorkshire Children’s Centre
SPONSORED BY
WINNER
Yorkshire Scrubs, Leeds
Volunteers, Yorkshire Scrubs came together during the pandemic, to make scrubs for frontline workers.
They supplied 23000 sets of scrubs to all the NHS hospitals within Yorkshire; doctors’ surgeries; emergency dental practices; care homes; hospices and various charities.
With the additional accessories made, over 100 000 items were despatched from the Leeds hub.
These volunteers made a commitment to share their most precious resources – their time, to make life better for those who were in need.
The fruits of labour made by this group had a tangible impact and the fact that they were willing to share their time and talent to lend a helping hand and to show kindness and caring, made the greatest difference in the lives of the individuals who were touched by their generosity.
Kate Granger Awards for Outstanding Contribution 2022
FINALISTS
Jacob Newsom
Henry Collett
Sarah Marshall
SPONSORED BY
WINNER
Jacqui Drake, Bradford
From her ‘Poem of Positivity’ to her Positivitea Tea Parties Jacqui Drake is one of the most positive, energetic, driven people you could ever wish to meet.
Jacqui from Bradford was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1993, which sadly returned as secondary cancer in 2009. By 2011, the cancer had spread to Jacqui’s lungs and in 2015 she had her right lung removed and is now living with terminal cancer.
In 2016, Jacqui founded her own charity ‘Jacqui’s Million’ with the aim of raising £1,000,000 for Leeds Cancer Centre at St James’s Hospital. Her current total stands at an incredible £298,000 – in just five years and with a pandemic thrown into the mix! Jacqui runs an extensive list of events, whilst also inspiring friends, family and other cancer sufferers to do their bit.
In the same way that Dr Kate Granger lived every moment to the full, whilst giving hope to others, Jacqui is unwavering in her determination and commitment to raise funds and remain infinitely positive.
The Rob Burrow Award 2022
FINALISTS
The Nick Smith Foundation
Ian Flatt
Lorraine Towler
SPONSORED BY
This particular award celebrated individuals, young people and groups who contributed to the charity, MND Association, helping to raise awareness and vital funds. Our panel of judges had a very hard decision to make out of the nominations.
AND THE WINNER IS...
Cath Muir, Richmond
Having been diagnosed with MND in 2014 Cath Muir has spent her time campaigning and raising funds for the MNDA both locally and nationally. She has done a parachute jump, ridden the Coast to Coast on a tandem and been pushed around the Great North Run in a wheelchair.
Although greatly affected by the continuing disease she continues to raise funds by painting cards. She continues to campaign and offers to help to support anyone who is diagnosed with this horrendous disease.
Cath is such a well-loved and respected member of the community, having run a local tea room business in Richmond for many years, that people have come out in large numbers to support her on these events helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds for MND. Always thinking of others she also prepared and distributed food parcels during the pandemic.
MEET OUR JUDGING PANEL
Rob & Lindsey Burrow, Christine Talbot, Tanya Arnold, Lizzie Jones MBE, Debbie Howard, Matthew Cobble and Christa Ackroyd.
Special Recognition Award 2022
AND THE WINNER IS...
Rob Burrow MBE, Pontefract
Courageous. Brave. Inspirational.
Three words that sum up the amazing Rob Burrow MBE.
Former Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019, just two years after ending his playing career by captaining Leeds to a record-extending eighth Super League Grand Final.
Rob is one of an estimated 5,000 adults in the UK currently living with motor neurone disease. Every day, an average of six people are diagnosed with MND.
Yorkshire Choice wanted to recognise the achievements Rob has not only celebrated within his sporting career but also his bravery and courage in tackling such a debilitating illness with fight and determination, always with a smile on his face.
We think that everyone will agree that Rob was the deserving choice for this award.