HUNDREDS of people celebrated the entrepreneurial success and inspiring triumphs of businesses in and around York last night at the 28th annual Press Business Awards.

More than 300 people attended the black tie ceremony, held at York Racecourse, during which TSP Projects was named the overall winner.

The business employs more than 400 designers, engineers, architects, planners and project managers to supports major infrastructure projects across the UK, right here from its headquarters in York.

It won the coveted Press Business of the Year title, having previously taken the Business Innovation of the Year crown in recognition of the firm’s implementation of GIS software.

Hosted by BBC presenter Colin Hazelden-Brice, the evening saw incoming chairwoman of York Professional Michelle Mook take the Business Personality of the Year award in an all female category, after impressing judges with the story of how she set up and grew her business Pro-Development.

It was also a successful night for local law firms as Torque Law was named New Business of the Year alongside Roche Legal winning the Socially Responsible Business of the Year title.

The event, sponsored by TalkTalk’s York Ultra Fibre Optic project, was the culmination of one of the most hotly contested competitions in recent years, according to the judges, who said the standard of entries from right across York, North and East Yorkshire, was exceptionally high throughout all ten categories, making it “a real coup” for business to have made the shortlist alone.

Once again the Press Business Awards was hosted as part of the York Business Week line-up, which continues today with TEDxYork at the Everyman cinema, and concludes on Monday.

l Don’t miss The Press on Wednesday for a souvenir supplement showcasing all the winners from last night’s ceremony.

2018 Press Business Awards

Roll of Honour

Large Business of the Year

Winner: DGP Intelsius. Finalists: The Skills Network, The Insurance Emporium.

Small Business of the Year

Winner: Netsells. Finalists: Playscheme, Yorkshire Heart.

New Business of the Year

Winner: Torque Law. Finalists: Y Pellets, Zac’s Club.

Retail, Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year

Winner: Brew York. Finalists: Group Company, Grays Court.

Exporter of the Year

Winner: Optare. Finalists: Cellhire, DWA Architects.

Business Innovation of the Year

Winner: TSP Projects. Finalists: Incremental Solutions, Trace in Metal.

Socially Responsible Business of the Year

Winner: Roche Legal. Finalists: Double Tree by Hilton, Spark York.

Business Personality of the Year

Winner: Michelle Mook (Pro-Development). Finalists: Emma Smailes (Federation of Small Businesses) Kerry Hope (Castle Employment).Family Business of the Year

Winner: Millers of Haxby. Finalists: Wayside Park, Glencore Golf.

Employer of the Year

Winner: Castle Employment Group. Finalists: The Group Company, Autohorn Fleet Services.

The Press Business of the Year 2018

Winner: TSP Projects.