Two finance professionals from Harrogate scooped top prizes at last night’s (17 May) Yorkshire Rising Stars of the Year Awards, which celebrated the region’s most outstanding up-and-coming finance professionals.
Craig Williams, group financial controller at Harrogate food company Zubrance was the winner in the West and North Yorkshire £10m-£30m turnover category.
Mike Burrett, head of finance at Taylors of Harrogate, part of the Bettys & Taylors Group, came top in the £80m-£150m turnover category for West and North Yorkshire .
The judges felt that Craig had surpassed his group finance controller role by taking on many of the duties traditionally assigned to a group FD. Craig said winning the award had been an “absolute surprise”.
Craig (pictured left) added added:
The Rising Star Award is a great confidence boost and it is fantastic to know that I am on the right route and that colleagues think so highly of me.
Mike Burrett impressed the Rising Star judges by stepping outside his finance role to spend a period of time as sales director at Taylors of Harrogate, which gave him a deeper insight into the company.
Mike (pictured below) said:
Finance people don’t often get recognition for the jobs they do so to have a share of the limelight and have mine and my team’s hard work recognised is brilliant.
The black-tie event was held at the De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel near Leeds, and hosted by BBC sports presenter Damian Johnson. Guest speaker at the event was Andrew Cope, the entrepreneurial chief executive of vehicle contracts firm Zenith.
The awards were supported by Barclays Corporate, Cobbetts, Grant Thornton and Sharp Consultancy. Money was raised for Cancer Research.
Overall Rising Star Awards winner: Joanne Cowl, group financial controller at Communisis plc, Leeds-based print and direct mail provider.
Awards
South/East Yorkshire under £30m turnover Winner – Wendy Burroughes of Danieli UK Holding Ltd
South/East Yorkshire £80m – £150m turnover Winner Andrew Fish of Stadium Group
South/East Yorkshire Not for Profit Winner – Biddy Egan of Westfield Contributory Health Scheme Ltd
West/North Yorkshire £10m – £30m turnover Winner – Craig Williams of Zubrance Ltd
West/North Yorkshire £80m – £150m turnover Winner – Mike Burrett of Bettys & Taylors Group Ltd
West/North Yorkshire under £10m turnover Winner – Ryan Scaife of Epiphany Solutions
West/North Yorkshire Not for Profit Winner – Nicola Thompson of East Coast Mainline Company Ltd
Yorkshire £30m – £80m turnover Winner – Claire Race of Kelda Water Services
Yorkshire over £150m turnover Winner – Emma Towers of Jet2.com
Yorkshire PLC Winner – Joanne Cowl of Communisus Plc
Highly commended
Yorkshire over £150m Highly commended – James Fasey of Asda Stores Ltd
West/North Yorkshire £10m – £30m turnover Highly Commended – Mark Pattison of Optimisa Research Ltd
Yorkshire £30m – £80m turnover Highly commended – Adam Wearing of Equifax Ltd
West/North Yorkshire £10m – £30m turnover highly commended – James Foster of Eddisons
The rigorous judging procedure for the awards included an interview with a panel of judges from Sharp Consultancy, Grant Thornton, Barclays Corporate and Cobbetts. The judges then met to discuss the Rising Star hopefuls, with the input of an independent adjudicator.
The Rising Stars website is at www.yorkshirerisingstars.co.uk
