Judges for the Yorkshire, Humberside and North East Family Business Awards are travelling across the regions to meet this year’s finalists, discover the people behind the businesses and hear the stories that make each family enterprise unique.
The judging process for the 2026 Yorkshire, Humberside and North East Family Business Awards is well underway, with judges visiting finalists across the three regions between 10 October and 5 November.
But these visits are about much more than reviewing business performance or checking the details of an application. They offer an opportunity to step inside each family business, meet the people who make it what it is and understand the values, experiences and relationships that have shaped its journey.
It’s this personal approach that helps set the Family Business Awards apart.
Bringing Family Business Stories to Life
While written applications provide an important starting point, the organisers believe there is no substitute for hearing a family business story directly from the people who have lived it.
During the visits, judges have the opportunity to meet family members and employees, explore the working environment and discover what goes on behind the scenes.
Conversations often reveal details that might never have made it onto an application form, from the challenges of building a business to the sacrifices made along the way, the relationships between generations and the pride that comes from creating something together.
The awards recognise not only commercial success but also the family values, commitment and character that make each business distinctive.
By taking the time to visit finalists in person, the judges can develop a deeper understanding of those qualities and appreciate the people and stories behind the achievements.
A Judging Experience That Goes Both Ways
The judging panels bring together experienced business professionals who combine their knowledge and expertise with a genuine interest in the family businesses they meet.
Their role is not simply to assess an application, but to create an environment where finalists feel comfortable sharing their experiences openly and in their own words.
By asking thoughtful questions and encouraging conversations, judges can uncover the details that reveal the true character of a business.
And while the visits are an important part of the assessment process, they can be just as rewarding for the judges themselves.
Previous years have offered some extraordinary experiences, from seeing traditional tartan being produced by a business holding a Royal Warrant to meeting younger family members already helping out after school.
Judges have even been given a glimpse inside their own ears and heard how family cooking traditions, combined with food parcels created during lockdown, inspired an entirely new cultural dining experience.
These are the moments that stay with judges long after the visits have finished, offering a reminder of the creativity, resilience and individuality found within family businesses.
Recognising the Journey, Not Just the Destination
For many finalists, the judging visit also provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on their own achievements.
Running a family business can mean years of hard work, difficult decisions, personal sacrifices and overcoming challenges together. In the day-to-day demands of business life, there is rarely time to stop and appreciate just how far the journey has come.
The application and judging process encourages business owners and their teams to do exactly that.
Annette Ritson of Net*, who was part of the judging panel in 2025, reflects on the impact of meeting finalists face to face.
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“There’s something incredibly powerful about visiting a family business and hearing its story first-hand, in the words of the people who have lived it. Quite often, those conversations become really emotional, because you’re hearing not just about the successes, but also the sacrifices, challenges and determination that have gone into building the business.
“The awards process gives people a rare opportunity to stop, look back and recognise just how much they’ve achieved. I think that’s one of the most valuable things about these awards. Whether or not they go on to win, every finalist has a story worth celebrating.”
– Annette Ritson, net*, 2025 Awards Judge
From Judging Visits to the Golden Envelope
Once the visits are complete, judges submit their scores, which are then collated and ranked to determine the results.
For selected categories, including Employee of the Year and Judges’ Excellence, public voting also forms part of the judging process, giving the wider community an opportunity to show its support.
The results are then kept a closely guarded secret until the awards ceremony, when the winners are finally revealed on stage through the opening of the much-anticipated golden envelopes.
It’s a moment of excitement and anticipation for everyone involved, and the culmination of a judging process that has gone far beyond the original application forms.
As the 2026 judging visits continue across Yorkshire, Humberside and the North East, the judges are discovering the extraordinary stories behind this year’s finalists, and celebrating the families, values and people who make these businesses so special.
