Which York Garden Centre Reached The Final Of A Big Regional Business Award?

It’s always brilliant to see a local spot get a bit of praise, isn't it? Especially when it's a place people know and love. Well, there's some good news floating around for a garden centre in York, as the team there is celebrating reaching the final of a pretty significant regional business award. It turns out all their hard work has been noticed, and they’re in the running for a top prize.

A bit of good news from York

The place in the spotlight is Dean’s York, a local garden centre that’s now a finalist in the annual Yorkshire Post Business Awards. This isn't just any old award; it's a major event that celebrates the very best businesses across the whole of Yorkshire. Dean's is specifically up for the 'Rural Business of the Year' award, which is a big deal. A rural business is basically any company that operates out in the countryside or in smaller towns, playing a vital part in its local community.

Getting to the final of a business award like this shows that a company is doing something really right. It’s a nod to their contribution, not just in terms of what they sell, but how they contribute to the area's economic success. The manager at Dean's York, Mike Waugh, was clearly chuffed about the news. He said:

“It’s a testament to the efforts of our hard-working team at Dean’s that we have reached the final in this prestigious award. We are particularly proud to have reached the final of our first award under new ownership, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of Yorkshire businesses with our fellow finalists next month.”

You can tell from what Mike Waugh said that this award means a lot, especially as it's their first time in the running under new ownership. It’s a great way to show that the garden centre is still going strong and continuing to be a brilliant local business.

Not just one award, but two!

And the good news doesn't stop there. The parent company, Yorkshire Garden Centres, has also been shortlisted for a separate award. They’re in the final for the 'Large Business of the Year' award. This is a completely different kettle of fish. While the rural business award celebrates smaller, community-focused enterprises, the large business category is for the big hitters. It’s a massive achievement for the group to be recognised in this category, showing their impact across the region.

The Yorkshire Garden Centres group includes a whole family of popular spots that many people will recognise. Here are the centres that make up the group:

• Tong Garden Centre
• Tingley Garden Centre
• Otley Garden Centre
• Bingley Garden Centre
• Pennine Garden Centres
• Dean’s York
• Dean’s Scarborough

Being a finalist for such a major business award puts them in some seriously impressive company. The competition for the Large Business award includes household names like Yorkshire Building Society and big construction firms like Caddick. It just goes to show the scale of this regional award.

Who are they up against?

Getting to the final is one thing, but winning the award is another. The competition is stiff. For the 'Rural Business of the Year' award, Dean’s York is facing off against some other fantastic local names. It’s a real showcase of the best of Yorkshire’s countryside enterprises.

Here’s a look at the other finalists in their category:

Finalist	Known For
Drewton's Ltd	A popular farm shop and restaurant
Farmer Copleys	A famous farm shop and event space
Soanes Poultry	A long-standing poultry farming business
Stump Cross Caverns	A well-known natural cave attraction

As you can see, the other finalists are all amazing in their own right, from a farm shop like Farmer Copleys to a tourist destination. It really highlights the diversity of businesses that contribute to the region's character and economic success. Meanwhile, in the Large Business category, Yorkshire Garden Centres is competing against companies like Regal Food Products Group Plc and the events team at the Royal Armouries Conference.

The big night in Leeds

So, when will everyone find out who won? The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony and gala dinner on November 12th. The event is set to be a proper glamorous affair, held at the New Dock Hall in Leeds. A gala dinner is just a fancy way of saying a massive celebratory party, and with over 300 guests from businesses all over Yorkshire expected to attend, the atmosphere should be buzzing.