New names and serial winners mark a night of celebrations at Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards

A quarter of a century celebrating business success in Hull and East Yorkshire has been clocked up in fine style, with a clutch of winners from key sectors that have helped define the region.

Logistics, leisure homes and food production shone brightly on a special night for the awards themselves, and what they mean for a proud and passionate business community.

And an incredible milestone for a leading light, Peter Brown, brought an audience of 500 to their feet in a fitting climax as he became the latest recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. 2025 has seen him clock up 60 years at global logistics provider Neill & Brown, as the third generation leader of the family business.

“This means so much,” he said, closing his address to his peers. “Our business started in 1917, it has been going a long time. We employ a lot of people, all from Hull and surrounding areas, and I don’t want to sell the business, I want to employ more people and keep the business going. It is a legacy. There aren’t many people that think like that, and whether I’m wrong or right, I’m not sure!”

Winners at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards
Peter Brown, Lifetime Achievement Award winner, second left, with, from left, host Gethin Jones, FEO chair Peter Aarosin and FEO chief executive Jan Brumby. — Winners at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards Peter Brown, Lifetime Achievement Award winner, second left, with, from left, host Gethin Jones, FEO chair Peter Aarosin and FEO chief executive Jan Brumby. (Image: Fred Marketing)

It is the second year of the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards being in the stewardship of talent entrepreneur Simon Jones and events specialist Jane Smallwood, with legacy an important part of their work for the region too. Television presenter Gethin Jones - who revealed his own Hull business interest in the hosting DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel’s franchise operator, Leaf Hospitality - compered a spectacular evening, opened with a set by Howden-based indie rocker Fiona-Lee.

Then it was a hit parade of business achievement.

David Hall, managing director of Beverley Leisure Homes, was named Entrepreneur of the Year, with his company triumphing in the Small Business category too. Having entered the world of work as an apprentice cabinetmaker at the age of 16, he went on to set up his first business at just 22. He now employs 46 staff, with five apprentices.

“It is massive for me personally, and the team especially,” he said. “On the way here we said no matter what comes of it, being nominated is testament to how well we have all done, clubbing together, putting me on this pedestal. It is cliche, but it is one for the team.”

Underlining this, he added: “One of the biggest lessons I have learned is being comfortable with the stuff I don’t know, and surrounding myself with amazing people. They’ve been the ones that have filled in the gaps that I couldn’t - and there are plenty of those gaps!”

Soanes Poultry and ResQ also doubled up. The Middleton-on-the-Wolds poultry specialist won Large Business for a second time in the awards’ history, taking the Environmental and Sustainability Award too, while the city’s contact centre kingpin was named Best Place to Work, while also scooping the Innovation title.

Ben Lee, managing director at Soanes, said: “It means a lot to us, it is great to have the recognition for all the hard work the team put in, We try our best, do what we can, and try to push the business forward.”

Winners at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards
The Soanes Poultry team, with Ben Lee and Claire Wright, centre, wins Large Business of the Year, presented by Isobel Edmondson of Wilkin Chapman Rollits. — Winners at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards The Soanes Poultry team, with Ben Lee and Claire Wright, centre, wins Large Business of the Year, presented by Isobel Edmondson of Wilkin Chapman Rollits. (Image: Fred Marketing)

A major refrigeration overhaul to make a “huge improvement to our carbon footprint, bring huge energy efficiencies and future-proof the business for future generations” brought the green plaudits, while finance director Claire Wright placed the emphasis on Soanes’ spirit for the wider category. “It is fantastic,” she said. “It shows a small family farming enterprise can grow into something fantastic, and it is all down to the staff, the team and the teamwork we put in to achieve this. Everybody is part of the company and the ethos we work towards.”

ResQ chief executive Gill Marchbank said: “This is so exciting. For us, this award is about the career progression we offer; how we recruit people, how we train them and help make them be the best they can be.

“We have about 1,000 employees now and the biggest change we made was stopping CV applications. Everyone who applies gets an interview, and once they are in, they get the best chance to be what they want to be. It is hugely important that our staff stay. High attrition costs everyone money, and we don’t want to recruit people for them to leave. We want them to stay and they do, and I’m really proud of that.”

Innovation came from work with artificial intelligence. Lee Kelly, head of infosec and tech projects, has led on improvements to service quality for customers and clients, while enhancing the experience for his colleagues. He said: “It means everything to us. We have been working really hard for the last two or three years on this project, and we’re finally getting vindication. We’re all really proud of what we have achieved, it is all about our people and we’re trying to empower our people to do more.”

High-achieving new entries to the business community were music to the ears of the gathered masses at the black-tie bash.

First on stage after the band was Alex Pollard, senior contracts manager at RMC Digital Print, as he was named Rising Star. He joined the large-format operator on a business administration apprenticeship. Now 23, he is senior contracts manager at the Hull firm, following a run of promotions.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said of the win. “It shows a lot of achievement over the last five years, not only for myself but for the company as well, and for everyone who has helped me get into this position. The past three or four years have just flown by, and I’m delighted to be where I am.”

Founding directors of Mopli Commercial Cleaning, Dom Riley and Tom Newell, brought sparkle to the Start-Up category.

Mr Newell said: “We’re really proud to be from Hull and East Yorkshire, we’ve been friends for a long time, and we started this 18 months ago with a vision to build something that we could be proud of, and this really is testament to that.”

Looking around the ballroom he said: “If we can walk in the same shoes as some of those businesses, it really is a good thing!”

Switching lanes for clients was a focus of Fast Forward Vocational Training, rewarded for its impressive growth. The alternative training provider emerged from a concept with Humberside Police, working with schools and referral units to engage with disaffected, disadvantaged and disengaged young people. From a standing start in Hull in 2018, it now operates across 35 centres, partnering with karting locations across the ��Ƶ, having specialised in mechanics and engineering.

Winners at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards
Fast Forward Vocational Training Ltd with the Growth Award, presented by Fred Marketing managing director Emma Pearson-Kendall. — Winners at the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards Fast Forward Vocational Training Ltd with the Growth Award, presented by Fred Marketing managing director Emma Pearson-Kendall. (Image: Fred Marketing)

Paul Thompson, who started it alongside his children, said: “It is amazing. The judges have recognised all the hard work we have put into this for years. My sons have put everything into this, we put everything on the line, and it is amazing to win.

“We have gone from one site, all the way through the country, giving everything to the students and team building. We put students on the right track, getting into employment, turning them round from the wrong line to the right line - it is amazing what we have achieved.”

Doing a similar job on the water is CatZero Humber, named Charity of the Year.

Adrian Tallon, chief executive, said: “We work with some people in Hull and East Yorkshire who need an awful lot of support and our delivery team works so hard, day in, day out, not for awards, but for the satisfaction they get out of the hard work.

“To be named Charity of the Year 2025 means the world, especially in such a competitive category. We have a unique charity sector in the area, and a unique business community, and we need to look after that. It is really hard to fundraise at the moment, there is a need there, and we’re up for the challenge.”

Team of the Year went to The Deep’s education offering, as endeavours with the next generation clearly resonated with judges. Jenny Thomas, teacher at the city’s iconic tourist attraction, led the celebrations.

“What a shock, the competition was amazing, we are so thrilled,” she said. “The judges called us the Nolan Sisters, they recognised we’re like family! There are only four of us in the team, we are very close professionally, but we know each other inside out.”

Packages of support tailored to the individual category are again part of the extended prize for the winners of the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards. For Entrepreneurs Only was headline partner in 2025, with principal partners , , , , , , , , , , , , , and also supporting.