What is it that makes Hull city centre a fantastic place to shop, to eat and to have fun, as well as being able to source all kinds of professional services?

It is the businesses, big and small, and the people behind them, that help to create this vibrant mix and make Hull’s offering so diverse and distinctive.

And, following Hull 2017, and the launch of new businesses that have caught the culture wave, there are even more reasons to hail the best that the city centre has to offer.

And that is what the Hull Business Improvement District (BID) Awards intend to do.

Now in their fifth year, the HullBID Awards shine the spotlight on all those judged to be particularly deserving of recognition.

Standout entries across ten categories will be heralded at a grand awards dinner, to be held at Hull’s DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, on Friday, April 27.

Kathryn Shillito, city centre manager for HullBID, which runs and funds the event, said the awards are not only for the bigger, more familiar high-street names but also for the all the little, more out-of-the-way businesses that are striving to help Hull shine.

She said: “We have some new categories for the awards this year.

“A lot of new businesses have opened or developed over the past year and we wanted the awards to appeal to all the different sectors that are represented in the city centre.

“We have so many different types of business, from professional services to charities, who are all playing a role in helping the city to thrive and progress.”

An independent panel of judges who have great experience of business in Hull city centre will scrutinise the nominations that come in for each of the award categories, before a shortlist of finalists is drawn up.

Three finalists in each category will be given four free tickets to attend the dinner; more tickets can be purchased by others wanting to attend to find out who has been voted as a winner on Friday, April 27.

Ms Shillito said: “We have always been very happy with the event at the Royal Hotel in Hull, but we had so many shortlisted businesses wanting to bring their teams or guests along that we have chosen the DoubleTree by Hilton for the venue this year because it can accommodate more people.

“We are very much looking forward to having the awards there, not least because the DoubleTree by Hilton is one of our big member businesses and it is good to give the hotel our support, as well as the hotel supporting our event.”

There were more than 450 nominations for the HullBID Awards last year and the awards dinner attracted more than 200 people, including sponsors and organisers.

The 2018 event will include a Champagne reception, a three-course dinner and entertainment by comedian Martin Gold, twice named Comedian of the Year by the Variety Club of Great Britain.

Ms Shillito will co-host the event with Neil Hodgkinson, editor of the Hull Daily Mail, sponsor and media partner in the HullBID Awards.

“The emphasis is very much on relaxation and enjoyment,” said Ms Shillito. “All our businesses have worked exceptionally hard and this is our way of giving something back to them.”

Sponsors of the ten categories will present the winners with their trophies and all the shortlisted finalists will receive a certificate.

Ms Shillito said: “We have a few different sponsors this year as well. We are indebted to all of our sponsors for their contribution that helps us to organise the event.”

HullBID is always pleased to see such a wide cross-section of businesses entering the awards each year, from the smallest independents to the big national names, and hopes to see even more support for them in 2018.

“The great thing about the awards is that we make it easy for every business to nominate – and there is something for everybody,” said Ms Shillito.

“The awards have grown and grown and people have started looking out for them – I think we have hit on a winning formula.

“Everyone enjoys the night and there is a lot of excitement around who the winners are going to be.

“There are lots of other award ceremonies that take place but the HullBID Awards really do provide the opportunity for the smallest of small businesses to enter – if they have a good story to tell, they will be considered.”

Now is the time for those thousands of unsung, dedicated men and women, working tirelessly to provide excellent service for visitors and residents alike, to share the limelight at the fifth HullBID Awards.

Businesses within the HullBID district can nominate themselves, a colleague or a boss; customers can also nominate their favourite businesses.

HullBID team members will be out and about in the city centre delivering nomination forms to businesses, and people will also be able to nominate online via the Mail’s website at www.hulldailymail.co.uk/bidawards

Any business in the HullBID district requiring nomination forms or further information about the awards can call Catherine Goble in the BID office on 01482 611802.