Ed Miliband congratulated Yorkshire Business award winners last week at entrepreneurial support network ABDN – The Network of Influence's 13th Annual Dinner&Business Awards: Aiming High.


The Labour leader highlighted the region as leading the way in bridging the North/South economic divide.

The Awards Dinner, held at Saviles Hall, Royal Armouries, Leeds celebrated the achievements of outstanding businesses across Yorkshire and the North West who have contributed to the economic regeneration of the region by continually reaching for the sky.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Business of the Year 2011 – ATB Morley Ltd
SME Business of the Year 2011- Cleveland Biotech Ltd
Innovation in Business 2011 – Brandon Medical Company Ltd
Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 – Dave Helm – Blue Logic Computer Systems Ltd
Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2011- Olga Kubassova – Image Analysis Ltd
Most Promising New Business 2011 – Thermal Engineering Contracts Ltd
Service to the Community 2011 – Hamara HLC
Rising Sports Star of the Year 2011 – Ashpal Bhogal
Lifetime Achievement Award 2011 – Avtar Singh Thethi


Attracting guests from over 700 Businesses including Jaguar, Akbars, Santander and Irwin Mitchell the lavish ceremony featured entertainment, dinner and a very moving additional award to ABDN Chairman Arshad Chaudhry for Outstanding Contribution to ABDN and to the business community as a whole.

Reflecting on the record number of nominated Businesses this year judges Ismail Hanif and Clare Morley-Jones noted the incredible standard of entrants showing “phenomenal talent, innovation and creativity”

Key note speaker Ed Miliband praised the Network of Influence in his speech saying: “The Asian community has made an enormous contribution right across a whole range of industries which equates to £25 billion generated each year. I will ensure in the work that I do as both leader of the opposition and hopefully as Prime Minister, to support all of your work as a way of wealth generation.

I know we have a massive challenge on our hands and whoever is in government needs to make sure we have balanced economic growth across the country. Regional development agencies make an enormous difference to our region, but we need to build on our expertise as we need more active industrial policies in place to create a better future for the next generation.

The Asian community has enormous strength through diversity, and ABDN supports this helping to enrich the lives of those who are a part of it. Thank you Arshad for your work and commitment throughout the years.”

Arshad said: “This year’s Annual Dinner was an emotional experience which inspired me from my heart in front of 700 guests, many of whom I know personally. The love and respect I received has given me the strength to fight on making a difference to the communities we live in and to continue to aim high”

For more information on ABDN – The Network of Influence and to see highlights from the awards dinner visit www.abdn.org.uk

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