The wait is over! After a flood of impressive entries and careful consideration by the independent judging panel, the finalists for the 2025 Ilkley Business Awards are finally here.
The Ilkley Business Awards committee have thanked this year's judging panel who were Rich Hayden, Managing Director at Madeby7, Sarah Howsen, Manager of Skipton BID and David Spicer from the University of Bradford.
The esteemed judges convened at the Craiglands Hotel on Monday 27th January to review the submissions, and after much deliberation, selected the following businesses and individuals as Finalists across a range of categories:
Best Boss of the Year
Emily Slater – Luxe Beauty Lounge
Lynda Forbes-Wake – LFW Podiatry
Steve Tennant – Tennant & Darragh Jewellery Workshop
Rising Star Award of the Year
David Fielden – Clip ‘n Climb Ilkley
Laura Wayman – Pi Healthcare
Samuel Harrop – Right at Home
New Business of the Year
Lulu’s Groom Room
Seddon & Davison
Tranmer White
Hair & Beauty Business of the Year
Dexter’s Ilkley
Smink Makeup Artistry
The Unique Barbers
Professional Services Business of the Year
Ashlands Veterinary Centre
Niche Design Architects
Skipton Building Society, The Grove
Side Hustle Business of the Year
Ilkley Creative
James Hall Coaching
The Yorkshire Gaming Club
Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year
A Tidy Mind
Pretty Gritty
The Hearing Suite
Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year
Clip ‘n Climb Ilkley
Dan’s Den
Pretty Gritty
Best Long Service Staff Member
Eddie Kerr – Pi Healthcare
Marilyn Osinski – The Clarke Foley Community Hub
Sean Duxbury – The Ilkley Shoe Company
Best Cafe of the Year
Outside the Box
Thirty Nine Kitchen & Bakehouse
B2C Business of the Year
Bathe of Wharfedale
Fusion Chocolates
Jigsaw
Richard Grafton Interiors
B2B Business of the Year
Cactus IT
Elite Accountancy
Pi Healthcare
A spokesperson for the Ilkley Business Awards said:
"The committee extends its sincere gratitude to all the sponsors whose generous support makes this celebration of our vibrant local business community possible.
The successful winners will be announced at the glittering Gala Dinner, which takes place on Friday 7th March at The Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley."
All the remaining tickets have now been released, follow the link from the website to make sure you don’t miss out ilkleybusinessawards.co.uk or email the committee: hello@ilkleybusinessawards.co.uk

Council approves earlier opening for McDonald's near Ilkley
Chocolate appeal launched ahead of Ilkley's Santa Float
Ilkley Round Table to collect at railway stations for Children in Need
Local care provider celebrates double win at Bradford Care Awards
Birthday card appeal for Ilkley WWII veteran as he turns 102
Ilkley businesses could benefit from new £2million electric vehicle grant scheme
Veterans selling poppies on Northern trains say support from passengers has been 'heartwarming'
Date announced for Ilkley's Macmillan Fashion Show 2027
Conveyancing firm celebrates new Ilkley office and ten years in business
Overnight A59 closures planned as Kex Gill road works reach final stages
Nominations open for 2026 Small Business Awards across Ilkley and Keighley
Call for Yorkshire Water to return to public ownership after 335 pollution incidents
66 poppies displayed in Menston to honour fallen servicemen
Dates announced for Ilkley Food and Drink Festival 2027
Two Ilkley businesses nominated for UK's Favourite Local Business award
Ilkley's first Pumpkin Festival hailed a huge success
Who will take over Alpamare? Questions remain after Flamingo Land departure
Police appeal to identify man following assault and burglary in Ilkley
Police investigate burglary and two attempted break-ins in Ilkley
Yorkshire Garden Centres raises more than £106,000 for children's hospice


