The Federation of Small Businesses’ North West Business Awards took place this week, where the region’s finest firms, including a number from Lancashire, were crowned winners at Wednesday’s finals.
The FSB’s first ever regional awards saw hundreds of businesses from across the North West battle it out for honours in a dozen categories, which included Best Ethical, Best Small, and Best Family Business.
The eventual winners, whose entries had dazzled judges, were announced during an afternoon event at East Lancashire’s Dunkenhalgh Hotel. All of the winners automatically now go through to the FSB’s UK National Finals to be held in London this May, where they will go head-to-head with other regional finalists from across the country.
The winners from Lancashire were:
Employer of the Year – The Poppins Family, Early Years education business from Blackburn with a strong focus on staff development
Ethical and Green Business of the Year – Crowberry Consulting, serial award winners from Chorley
Scale up Business of the Year – Group55, celebrated pet care manufacturers from Lancashire with clients across the globe
Start-Up Business of the Year – Huxter. Kidswear online childrens fashionwear design and handmade manufacturing from Preston-based Sophie Bell-Carr
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – James Calderbank. Body Transformation Coach James has seen his business grow over 700% in just 3 years from his Preston base
Triumph over Adversity Award – Saira Hussain of Hussain Architectural Design for significant breakthrough in a traditionally male-dominated sector
Community Award – Ribcaged Productions of Clitheroe delivering classes across their community to boost confidence and creativity through drama and theatre
Simon Edmondson, FSB NW Regional Chairman, added: “Congratulations to all this year’s North West FSB Business Award winners. It’s been a real pleasure to see so many of the region’s businesses take part in our awards and the sheer scale and diversity of those who entered is a testimony to the vitality of the small business community in this region.
“It just remains for me to wish the winners the very best of British for the UK national award finals in May.”
