Businesses across Yorkshire are being urged to get their entries in for this year’s Amazon-sponsored Rural Business Awards (RBAs), with just days left for nominations to be submitted.

The awards, now in their third year, celebrate everything from rural tourism and cuisine to manufacturing and clothing, championing the enterprises which are the backbone of the rural economy. Run in partnership with the CLA and Amazon, the RBAs are split into 13 categories and are the only UK-wide programme dedicated to showcasing the success of rural firms, a sector which employs over 3.4 million people in more than 600,000 businesses.

Keelham Farm Shop, based in Skipton, is reigning champion of the Best Food and Drink Award. James Robertshaw from Keelham is calling on other companies in the area to get involved this year, and show the country what businesses in Yorkshire have to offer.

 James said: “Being involved in the Rural Business Awards last year was a great experience for us and we’d urge businesses to put themselves forward this year. Winning the Best Food and Drink Award at the Rural Business Awards was a huge milestone and should be a great encouragement to rural businesses across Yorkshire that their good work doesn’t go unnoticed. The Rural Business Awards is the ultimate recognition for businesses in our industry and we’d love to see as many entries from Yorkshire as possible for the 2017

 CLA Director General Helen Woolley said: “Employers in the countryside play a vital role in rural areas by providing essential jobs and services which are key in ensuring we have vibrant rural communities. If your business can demonstrate impeccable employment credentials, or if you think your employer is one of the best, enter now and tell us why you deserve to win a Rural Business Award.”

 This year’s awards ceremony will be held at Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey on October 5th. The award categories will be decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, official agencies and rural charitable organisations.

More than a hundred rural businesses attended the awards ceremony last year, and there has already been a record number of entries in 2017.