Goole & Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards – Winners: The Complete List of 2026 Honorees

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a local awards night, is there? The atmosphere on Friday, 10th April 2026 was absolutely electric as the very best of the local business community gathered for a huge celebration. It was the night of the Goole & Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards, a sell-out black-tie ceremony that saw over 339 people come together to cheer on the brilliant companies and individuals that make this corner of Yorkshire so special. After a record-breaking year for entries, the anticipation was sky-high to find out who the winners would be.

A record-breaking year for local business

When you hear that an awards event had over 110 entries, you know the local business scene is thriving. This year, the Goole & Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards saw more submissions than ever before, making 2026 its most successful year to date. Think about it, that’s more than a hundred local businesses putting their hard work forward to be judged. It’s a real testament to the entrepreneurial spirit in the Goole and Howdenshire area. This sheer volume of high-quality entries meant the judges had a seriously tough job on their hands. The announcement, highlighted just how competitive each category was. Creating a shortlist from that many brilliant submissions would have been a challenge for any judging panel, but they managed to narrow it down to the very best. The annual ceremony has truly become a cornerstone celebration in the local calendar.

The deserving winners of the 2026 awards

So, let's get to the main event. Who were the winners who walked away with the coveted trophies? The evening was packed with incredible stories of success, from brand-new businesses to long-established community pillars. A huge congratulations to every single one of the winners and to everyone who made the shortlist. Taking home one of these sponsored awards is a massive achievement. The list of winners showcases the amazing diversity of businesses in the region, covering everything from transport and tech to beauty and pickles!

Here’s a full rundown of the winners from the big night:

• Charity of the Year Award: Goole Youth Action

• Environmentally Friendly Business of the Year Award: Energe

• Family Business of the Year: Alterever Ltd

• Hugh Walton Contribution to the Community Award: Duet School of Dance

• Large Business of the Year Award: Revnet Safety Systems

• Long-standing Business of the Year: Herbert Fletcher Transport Ltd

• Marketing Excellence Award: Bloom Aesthetics and Beauty Clinic

• New Business of the Year Award: Nichols Pickles & Preserves

• Pioneering Business of the Year Award: Flood Technology Group

• Self Employed/Micro Business of the Year Award: Wressle Grange

• Small Business of the Year Award: J-Tech Vans Ltd

• Team of the Year Award: Goole Town Deal

• Unsung Hero: Sean Stewart

• Overall Business of the Year Award: Flood Technology Group

• The Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award: Phil Jones, Link Agency

One of the biggest stories of the night was Flood Technology Group, who not only picked up the Pioneering Business of the Year award but were also crowned the Overall Business of the Year. What a fantastic achievement for them! It’s also brilliant to see a whole range of businesses recognised, from the vital work done by the Charity of the Year to the individual brilliance of a micro business.

Behind the scenes of the big night

An event of this scale doesn't just happen. It's powered by a dedicated team of volunteers. The organising committee, made up of people from the local business community, puts in a tremendous amount of work to make this celebration possible. The same goes for the independent panel of judges, who had the mammoth task of going through all the submissions. The chair of the organising committee, Garrey Haase, gave a special mention to the hard work that went on behind the scenes.

He said:

“Our panel of independent judges—Martin Usher of Grotech Production Limited; Phil Jones of Link Agency; Jan Brumby of For Entrepreneurs Only; Alan Johnson, Chancellor of Hull University; Carolyn Johnson of Language is Everything; Dr Michael Nieto of Howden Rotary Club; and Ian Stewart, Deputy Lieutenant—faced the mammoth task of reviewing a record number of entries this year. We are incredibly grateful for the time, care and expertise they dedicated to narrowing down the submissions, producing a strong shortlist in every category and ultimately selecting our very deserving winners. Huge congratulations to all of our winners, and well done to everyone who was shortlisted. Thank you also to everyone who took the time to enter. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow committee members. Without their commitment, this popular annual celebration of businesses across the Goole and Howdenshire area simply wouldn’t be possible.”

It's clear that the commitment of the committee and the expert panel of judges is what makes these awards so respected across the region. A special mention also goes to Phil Jones of the Link Agency, who was not only on the judging panel but also received the prestigious Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award for his incredible career.

What makes these awards so special?

It’s about more than just a trophy. The Goole & Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards are a vital part of the local community. They shine a light on the hard work, innovation, and resilience of businesses in this part of Yorkshire. For a new start-up or a small micro business, being shortlisted or winning can be a massive boost. For established companies, it’s recognition for their consistent contribution to the local economy and community. The various awards, like the Contribution to the Community Award and the Charity of the Year award, show that it's not just about profit; it's about making a positive impact.

You can bet that the winners will be sharing images from the ceremony all over their social media for weeks to come, and rightly so. This kind of positive news creates a ripple effect, inspiring others and fostering a real sense of local pride. It’s an annual celebration that brings everyone together and proves that the business community in this part of the world is stronger than ever. These sponsored awards are a fantastic showcase, and the 2026 event will be remembered as a particularly special one.