The list of past winners reads like a who’s who of business people and entrepreneurs who have left an indelible mark on the region, either through growing their own venture or leading one of our most recognisable companies, supporting people and good causes along the way.
Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards means you have made an incredible contribution to the local economy and business community.
2012
Jim Dick OBE
Following a hugely successful career with global medical technology powerhouse Smith & Nephew, Mr Dick has continued his involvement with businesses locally alongside working with a number of charities. He has been Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire since 2009.
2013
Paul Sewell OBE
Paul grew the family business into a construction company operating across the Yorkshire region, before diversifying into development, facilities management and petrol retail. He also founded Humber Business Week, which shines a spotlight on the region’s economy every year.
2014
David Kilburn CBE
Since co-founding MKM alongside Peter Murray in 1995, David has grown the business from a single site in Hull to more than 100 branches across the country, turning it into a £1 billion turnover operation which is also the UK’s largest independent builder’s merchant.
2015
Victoria Jackson MBE
Founder and chairman of Kingston Recruitment, Victoria has been named among the most inspirational business leaders in the region. Her advice is highly sought after, and her roles include board member at HOTA and board member and former chairman at HullBID.
2016
Charlie Spencer OBE
Charlie Spencer founded Spencer Group in 1989 and has built the company into a specialist contractor operating nationwide. He is a leading figure with For Entrepreneurs Only, which supports local start-up businesses, and works with a number of charities and other organisations locally.
2017
Simon Lunt
Simon joined Gosschalks Solicitors in 1976, becoming partner in 1978 and then senior partner in 2000. Specialising in company law and corporate work, he earned the award in recognition of the leading role he has played in the region’s business community over the years.
2018
Lord Haskins
Lord Haskins rose to become chairman of Northern Foods and Express Dairies, and has been praised as a formidable voice for rural Britain, being awarded a life peerage in 1998. He also helped shape the Humber’s role as the energy estuary as chairman of the Humber LEP.
2019
Andrew Horncastle MBE
As Chairman of Horncastle Group, Andrew is a successful property professional with a unique insight into running a business. A founding member of For Entrepreneurs Only, he also works with voluntary groups and is a local ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, being awarded an MBE in 2019.
2020
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
The accolade in 2020 was bestowed on the 10,000 strong team of health workers on the Covid front line. All at the trust were celebrated for their efforts by a united business community showing their appreciation.
2021
Trevor Boanas
Trevor Boanas transformed the family firm, Bonus Electrical, into one of our most successful local businesses. He has since inspired millions of pounds-worth of fundraising as a trustee of the Daisy Appeal, which funds treatment and diagnosis of cancer, heart disease and dementia.
2022
Malcolm Scott
The founder of Scotts chartered surveyors, Malcolm Scott was known as a man who got things done, pushing beyond the realms of property and business to do his best by the region economically and culturally. Famously, he tried to buy the Humber Bridge, a key factor in getting tolls reduced.
2023
Neil Hudgell
Owner of Hull Kingston Rovers, Neil established Hudgell Solicitors in 1997, going on to fight for the victims in some of the most prominent cases in recent UK legal history. The lifetime award was recognition for making good things happen for people, business, sports and good causes locally.