TWO Ryedale businesses have made the finals of prestigious awards showcasing business success stories in our region.

Malton-based Derwent Training Association and the Yorkshire Pasta Company Ltd are finalists in the the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB)Yorkshire and The Humber 2022 awards.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Principal Hotel, York, on Friday, February 25.

Carolyn Frank, FSB development manager for York and North Yorkshire, said: “We are so excited to welcome all our finalists and guests together next to month at The Principal.

“This will be a great celebration of the resilience and success of the small business community and one of our first large-scale face to face events for a long time.

“Everyone who entered was a winner, that’s absolutely no cliché this year. In a tremendously difficult trading period, the self-employed have dug in and achieved against all odds and are leading the economic recovery.”

She added: “Winners in York will go on to represent Yorkshire & The Humber in our prestigious national final, flying the flag for our region against the rest of the UK and we are proud of each and every one of them already.”

I'm super excited about all the finalists, with 25 from York & North Yorkshire competing with the rest of Yorkshire and The Humber to potentially represent our region as national finalists, next month.

"In another tough year of trading for small businesses, all the entries were uplifting to read, and the event will reflect this in a celebration of small business perseverance and recovery."

Carolyn said: "Claire and her team at Derwent Training have shown real leadership and resilience during the pandemic and their entry in the Wellbeing category reflects their brilliant employer and sustainability credentials.

"Yorkshire \Pasta Co is a flagship example of someone having clear ambition and vision and working really hard to grow a high performing business, and is an inspiration to other young entrepreneurs.

"As FSB's local development manager I'm so proud of all our entrants and finalists, and wish them well. When they're flying the flag for York & North Yorkshire I'll be cheering them on! Our mission at FSB is to help all small businesses achieve their ambitions and I'm so pleased to see our local businesses demonstrating their achievements through these prestigious awards. "

Derwent Training Association is shortlisted in the Wellbeing Category and the Yorkshire Pasta Company Ltd for young entrepreneur.

Other categories include digital/e-commerce business; international business; ; business and product innovation; and the community award.

At the 2020 Awards, judges crowned 12 businesses of different shapes and sizes from across various sectors of the economy, from self-employed businesses to established larger businesses with up to 250 employees.