Key recovery and replacement specialist Keycare of Shipley won an award for private sector businesses with fewer than 250 employees, while Wakefield and District Housing, based in Castleford, scored a double victory by winning the charity and not-for-profit sector award and also the title of business of the year.

Assessors said that Keycare's business values, which include integrity and accountability, were 'embedded throughout the organisation' while Wakefield and District Housing was praised for its clear vision, well thought out strategy and customer focus.

The winners were announced at the annual awards ceremony at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, where speakers included Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association and Miles Templeman, director general of the Institute of Directors.

It is the first time the awards ceremony has been held in Yorkshire since the awards, which were established in the North West in 1994, were extended to cover the whole of the North three years ago.

All entrants had their practices and their performance thoroughly assessed by a team of trained, independent assessors.

Awards were only given in those categories in which entrants were judged to have achieved sufficiently high standards.

David Teale, chief executive of award organisers North of England Excellence, said: "The winners show that any organisation, regardless of size or sector, can improve its performance and its results by following well-established business principles. We hope to inspire others in the region to aim for world-class standards."