Jono Lancaster handed Yorkshire Legend Award

The Yorkshires. Business Awards 2024 took place on December 6th at the iconic Queens Hotel in Leeds. This prestigious event not only celebrated the outstanding achievements of Yorkshire’s business community but also served as a vital fundraising platform for Yorkshire Children’s Charity. The day raised an impressive £97,000 to support the charity’s mission of transforming the lives of children across the region.

The afternoon featured inspirational keynote speeches from Sara Davies MBE (Dragons’ Den), motivational speaker Jono Lancaster, and host Chris Hollins (Strictly Come Dancing, BBC Breakfast). Jono Lancaster delivered a particularly moving speech, earning a standing ovation as he shared his journey of living with Treacher Collins syndrome. Jono spoke candidly about being abandoned at birth, the challenges of bullying and anxiety, and the life-changing experience of being adopted by his mum, Jean. Now an acclaimed motivational speaker, Jono travels the world to inspire and support young people. His contributions were recognised with the prestigious Yorkshire Legend award.

A highlight of the event was the Young Entrepreneur Scheme, supported by LEAP Enterprise. Over seven weeks, students, teachers, and mentors collaborated to develop innovative business ideas, culminating in an awards ceremony to celebrate their achievements. The top honors went to Rossett School in Harrogate, with Roundhay School taking second place and Ruth Gorse Academy coming in third.

This remarkable event exemplified Yorkshire’s vibrant spirit of innovation, resilience, and generosity, leaving an enduring impact on the region’s business and charitable landscape.

Jono Lancaster said: “To be called a legend is pretty epic and to receive it for the work I have done within our region, I am incredibly proud. The day itself was amazing and the Yorkshire Children’s Charity are so special. They’ve done such amazing work across my county and are currently providing families across the region with winter coats, school shoes, bedding, and pyjamas. They are also working on “keeping the magic alive” over the festive season – providing families not only the present that the child has wished for, but also the wrapping items needed to gift wrap it themselves before they give it to their child.” 

Charlotte Farrington, CEO and founder of Yorkshire Children’s Charity said: “The Yorkshires. Business Awards bring together and celebrate some of the best in our county, which always makes for an incredibly inspiring afternoon. As a charity which is not yet three years old, we are incredibly honoured to have the support of such remarkable people who enable us to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of children across Yorkshire. 

“At the heart of everything we do is intervention; the more we can do to steer our children and young people onto the right track, the closer we get to making intergenerational poverty a thing of the past. We are so proud to run our Young Entrepreneur Challenge, in partnership with LEAP, to break down employability barriers and broaden the horizons of our children and young people.”

To close the event, Sara Davies engaged with the audience in a lively Q&A session with host Chris Hollins, sharing insights from her time on Strictly Come Dancing and Dragons’ Den. She emphasised the importance of Yorkshire Children’s Charity’s work and reflected on how inspiring it was to meet the young entrepreneurs who participated in the awards.

The Yorkshires. Business Awards is more than just a celebration of excellence in Yorkshire’s business sector; it is a gathering of over 300 business leaders and peers united to support the vital work of Yorkshire Children’s Charity. The event offers a unique opportunity to network with influential figures while making a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

Yorkshire has the third-highest rate of child poverty in the UK, with 31% of the region’s children currently living in poverty. Recognising the urgent need, Yorkshire Children’s Charity is committed to alleviating these struggles, particularly during the challenging winter months. From providing essentials to supporting families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, the charity strives to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and create brighter futures.

Events like The Yorkshires. Business Awards celebrate entrepreneurial spirit while raising essential funds to help children and young people in Yorkshire achieve their full potential.

The companies who won this year’s business awards are:

• Large Corporate of the Year Award – Nexus Vehicle Management

• Mid-Market Corporate of the Year Award – Envirovent

• ESG Excellence Award – John Cotton

• Innovation Award – JBA

• Heritage Award – Mansfield Pollard

• Business Leader Award – Paul Scott, Renew Holdings 

To find out more information about the awards or how to support Yorkshire Children’s Charity, visit: https://yorkshirechildrenscharity.org/