The finalists for the Business of the Year category at the Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs, have been unveiled today along with those companies and individuals bidding to win its other 17 prize categories.
The firms in the running for the top prize include motor dealers Bowker Group and Hippo Motor Group, food firms Laila’s Fine Foods and Mellor’s Catering and Fylde plant hire company Fox Brothers.
Coolkit, a Burnley-based refrigerated vehicle specialist, flood protection experts, Storm Meister, and Healthpoint, a health and beauty specialist, complete the shortlist.
Alistair Clayton, of the Leyland-based Aston Services Group which is sponsoring the Family Business of the Year category, said the quality of finalists was testament to the appeal of the awards.
He said: “The BIBAs is known as ‘the one they all want to win’ for a reason, it is a competition which pushes businesses to their limits to ensure only the best of the best come out on top.
“Having been involved as an applicant, winner and now as a judge of these awards, I know just how much goes in to the process and it makes me proud to be part of such a vibrant business community as we have in Lancashire.
“It was great to meet the applicants for the first round of judging and I cannot wait to meet the finalists for the Family Business of the Year category when we embark on a second round of judging in July.”
In 2015, Cleanall Services, which became Aston Services Group earlier this year following a merger, picked up two awards at the BIBAs, winning the Excellence in Customer Service and Service Business of the Year categories.
The second round of judging gets underway on June 19 when the Exporter of the Year category judges hit the road to visit finalists in their business premises, travelling almost 100 miles in the process.
In other categories up for grabs, current winners and former winners have returned to attempt to be named the best in Lancashire again.
Country and Commercial Insurance Brokers are among the finalists for the Micro Business of the Year, the title they picked up in 2016, whilst Blackpool-based UR Potential are seeking to retain the Third Sector Business of the Year.
The Winter Gardens venue in Blackpool is also on the shortlist for the Leisure Business of the Year, a prize they won last September.
Door 4, Laila’s Fine Foods and Fairbanks Environmental are also among the former winners which are bidding for success at the 2017 ceremony.
BIBAs 2017 – THE FINALISTS
Business of the Year
Bowker Motor Group – Preston
Coolkit – Burnley
Hippo Motor Group – Blackburn
Fox Bros – Poulton
Mellors Catering Services – Skelmersdale
Healthpoint – Blackpool
StormMeister Flood Protection – Preston
Laila’s Fine Foods – Bispham
Leisure Business of the Year
Cuffe & Taylor – Preston
Deltec Group – Preston
Holiday Inn Preston – Preston
Sunshine Events – Preston
The Wayfarer – Parbold
UK Media & Events – Preston
Winter Gardens Blackpool – Blackpool
Mellors Catering Services – Skelmersdale
Small Business of the Year
WJF Technical Support – Blackpool
Bespoke Healthcare – Preston
Bevlan Office Interiors – Blackburn
Frederick’s Ice Cream – Chorley
Prestige Beds – Blackburn
Dantech UK – Burscough
Seriun – Burnley
Energy Cost Management – Kirkham
Micro Business of the Year
Country & Commercial Insurance Brokers – Longridge
Perfect Recruitment – Chorley
Raine & Bea – Clitheroe
KW Designed Solutions – Adlington
3D GB IRE – Chorley
Group 55 – Preston
Catering Elite – Blackpool
The 8th Sign – Bretherton
Employer of the Year
Bespoke Healthcare – Preston
Holiday Inn Preston – Preston
Rawcliffe & Co – Blackpool
Sunshine Events – Preston
novi.digital – Lancaster
E Thompson & Son – Preston
Hippo Motor Group – Blackburn
Cuffe & Taylor – Preston
New Business of the Year
Lateo Global Solutions – Blackpool
Woodside Designs – Blackpool
Forth Wall Solutions – Chorley
CFE Lighting – Trawden
AZTEX Venue – Blackpool
Community Clothing – Blackburn
North West Financial Solutions – Blackpool
Excellence in IT
BAS Energy – Blackpool
Connect Childcare – Burnley
Freightlink Solutions – Walton Le Dale
HR Savvy – Preston
Jones Harris – Fleetwood
The Protein Lab – Blackpool
BedStateTracker.co.uk – Accrington
Wired Marketing – Burnley
Business of the Year for Corporate Social Responsibility
Acorns of Lancashire – Accrington
AFC Fylde Community Foundation – Lytham
Burnley FC – Burnley
Smile Mediation – Burnley
Sunshine Events – Preston
Laila’s Fine Foods – Bispham
Bowker Motor Group – Preston
Barrie Wells Trust – Lancaster
Exporter of the Year
Dantech UK – Burscough
Fairbanks Environmental – Skelmersdale
Freightlink Solutions – Walton le Dale
Gannon Oils – Blackpool
Group 55 – Preston
Scorpion Automotive – Chorley
Family Business of the Year
Bowker Motor Group – Preston
Mellors Catering Services – Skelmersdale
Fredericks Ice Cream – Chorley
Links Signs & Graphics – Blackpool
Laila’s Fine Foods – Bispham
Prestige Beds – Blackburn
Star Tissue – Blackburn
The Wayfarer – Parbold
Service Business of the Year
Connect Childcare – Burnley
Door 4 – Burnley
Healthpoint – Blackpool
WJF Technical Support – Blackpool
Freightlink Solutions –Walton le Dale
Fairbanks Environmental – Skelmersdale
E Thompson & Son – Preston
Creative Agency of the Year
Door 4 – Burnley
HotFoot Design – Lancaster
Juicy Media – Preston
SQ Digital – Lancaster
T-PW Creative Design – Darwen
Wired Marketing – Burnley
YUDU Media – Clitheroe
novi.digital – Lancaster
Manufacturer of the Year
The Barking Bakery – Wesham
Coolkit – Burnley
Gannon Oils – Poulton
North West Water Jet – Chorley
Morgan Bros – Coppull
Star Tissue – Blackburn
Scorpion Automotive – Chorley
Laila’s Fine Foods – Bispham
Medium Business of the Year
Coolkit – Burnley
Hippo Motor Group – Blackburn
Fox Bros – Poulton
Standfast and Barracks – Lancaster
Star Tissue – Blackburn
Watson Ramsbottom – Blackburn
Scorpion Automotive – Chorley
BAS Energy
Professional Business of the Year
North West Commercial Solutions – Blackpool
North West Auto Enrolment – Blackpool
Jones Harris – Fleetwood
Rawcliffe & Co – Blackpool
Sweeting HR – Blackpool
Thomas Consulting – Chorley
Watson Ramsbottom – Blackburn
Total CRB – Burscough
Third Sector Business of the Year
UR Potential – Blackpool
Lancashire Wildlife Trust – Bamber Bridge
AFC Fylde Community Foundation – Lytham
Burnley FC in the Community – Burnley
Blackpool FC Community Trust – Blackpool
Community & Business Partners – Blackburn
Preston Vocational Centre – Preston
Ribcaged Productions – Clitheroe
Business Person of the Year
Barrie Wells – Barrie Wells Trust – Lancaster
Ashley Hackett – Blackpool FC – Blackpool
Cameron Javed – Coolkit – Burnley
Lisa Brady – Perfect Recruitment- Chorley
Heath Groves – Sundown Solutions – Accrington
Rachel Birkett – The Wayfarer – Parbold
Mark Gannon – Gannon Oils – Poulton
Sam Riley – North West Skills Academy – Rossendale
Construction Business of the Year
E Thompson & Son – Preston
Pinnington – Lancaster
StormMeister Flood Protection – Preston
Thomas Consulting – Chorley
Fox Bros – Poulton
North West Skills Academy – Rossendale
