Fearless pair: Blessed and Fiennes to star at Variety’s Yorkshire Business Awards

He is appearing at the Yorkshire Business Awards this year, where he will be honoured for his lifetime’s achievements as an actor, adventurer and raconteur.

Blessed will be joined by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the man described by the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer”.

With two of the most fearless Englishmen in attendance, the fundraising lunch on December 11 promises to be an inspirational event that business leaders cannot afford to miss.

Yorkshire’s business community has raised more than £3.2m over the last three decades for the Variety children’s charity, bringing much-needed support to the region’s most needy young people.

In the last 12 months, more than 3,000 disabled and disadvantaged children have benefited from educational and fun days out organised by the charity in Yorkshire.

Variety has also funded 30 general appeals, five wheelchairs and put six Sunshine coaches on the road in the region.

As ever, the awards will highlight the continuing success of Yorkshire’s companies.

Chris Kelly, chairman, told The Yorkshire Post: “I am delighted that once again the Yorkshire Business Awards will be recognising the contribution of Yorkshire businesses to the UK’s financial success.

“The region continues to outperform and I am sure that Yorkshire businesses and their advisors and the readers of The Yorkshire Post will be able to nominate some very strong candidates for our judging panel to consider.

“The awards lunch remains the perfect way to celebrate the region’s success and to kick start the festive period.

“As last year, I am confident that through Variety our local businesses - which contributed almost £175,000 in 2014 - will help us to improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children in Yorkshire.”

Entries are being sought for business leader of the year, board of the year, SME of the year and a corporate social responsibility award.

The main sponsors for the awards are The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Beckett University Enterprise Services.

Simon Baldwin, head of enterprise at Leeds Beckett, said: “Leeds Beckett University is one of the biggest providers of professional education, training, applied research and consultancy, transforming the lives and prospects of thousands of individuals and organisations in our region and beyond every day.

“We have strong connections to regional business, and as a university contribute £500m to the economy every year.

“We are delighted to promote these awards and the amazing work of Variety to our business community and professional partners and are committed to supporting the charity over the coming months.

“We encourage all businesses in this region to show our renowned Yorkshire generosity by supporting these awards and in particular those children most in need.”

Other sponsors include Design Portfolio, Ernst & Young, DLA Piper, Pace, Henderson Insurance Broker, Rothschild, Yorkshire Bank and Yorkshire Building Society.

Entries must contain a statement outlining why the nominated company or individual should win.

Please send entries to Business Editor Bernard Ginns at [email protected] by October 24. Tickets are now on sale via www.yorkshirebusinessawards.org