More than 1,000 guests celebrated in Blackpool with the newly crowned champion businesses of Lancashire at the Red Rose Awards 2020.
The 10th annual event celebrated Lancashire’s most impressive businesses and their achievements of the past year.
Hundreds of nominations were submitted to more than 60 expert judges who whittled the entries down to a shortlist of six per category. These finalists were then grilled face-to-face by judging panels before winners took to the runway to collect their trophies, which were made by Pendle Engineering of Nelson.
The biggest success story of the night was Sales Geek, which took home three awards. The Altham-based company began as a one-man operation in 2017 to help businesses improve their sales potential.
By the end of 2019 it employed nine, had helped 150 businesses and was delivering free workshops in conjunction with Chambers of Commerce. Sales Geek won the Growing Business Award, New Business Award and Small Business Award in recognition of its incredible success to date.
Other multiple winners on the night were:
- Preston’s Conlon Construction, which won the Construction Business and Corporate Social Responsibility awards;
- Hexagon Care Services, also of Preston, which won the Healthcare Business and In-house Training awards;
- Burnley-based aluminium specialist SACO which won both the Engineering Business and Large Business Awards;
- Northern Industrial, based in Blackburn, which won the Export Award and the Online Sales Award.
At the end of the night, Age Concern Central Lancashire, Preston, was given the Lancashire Business View award - one which is not open to outside submissions but is chosen by the organising team.
Stephen Bolton, commercial director at Lancashire Business View, said: “Age Concern Central Lancashire does great things. It may be in the not-for-profit environment, but it runs like a well-oiled business should. Hard work and ingenuity combine to create measurable impact for service users across the county.”
The Red Rose Awards featured a roster of almost exclusively Lancashire suppliers, upholding its mantra to buy locally and support the county economy and persuade others to do the same.
Stephen Bolton added: “Our job through our magazine and events is to show the depth of quality of Lancashire businesses.”
“Simply put, if you can buy it in Lancashire, buy it in Lancashire!”
The event saw live music by Mr Wilson’s Second Liners and late-night party band The Deadbeats with acrobatics provided by Gravity Live.
Full list of winners with comments from judging panels:
Construction Business Award sponsored by VEKA UK
Winner: Conlon Construction, Preston
Judges said: “A proud, family-owned Lancashire company delivering a broad range of key commercial construction projects within, and beyond, the county. Working with loyal and trusted contractors they have a well-earned reputation with major clients leading to significant repeat business.”
Corporate Social Responsibility Award sponsored by Community Foundation for Lancashire
Winner: Conlon Construction, Preston
Judges said: “Conlon Construction set an unrivalled benchmark for CSR, not just within Lancashire but across the whole of the construction industry.”
Creative Business Award sponsored by Peter Scott Printers
Winner: Think! Creative, Poulton-Le-Fylde
Judges said: “Think! demonstrated an impressive creative passion and ability to execute work to a very high standard with effective business results to match.”
Customer Service Award sponsored by Seriun
Winner: UPS Building & Maintenance, Skelmersdale
Judges said: “UPS demonstrate a very empathetic approach to customer service by really understanding who their customers are in a complex sales and delivery process.”
Digital Business Award sponsored by Sundown Solutions
Winner: Blue Wren, Preston
Judges said: “Blue Wren demonstrate the best of digital in Lancashire - daring innovation, matched by an ambition to be a better business, a better employer and with a keenness to show-off their Lancastrian heritage.”
Employer of the Year Award sponsored by Napthens Solicitors
Winner: Blackpool Transport Services, Blackpool
Judges said: “Blackpool Transport has a clear understanding of the wellbeing of their staff and demonstrated multiple metrics showing how staff engagement has achieved positive results for the company.”
Engineering Business Award sponsored by AMRC North West
Winner: SACO, Burnley
Judges said: “A visionary business, Saco has almost doubled production to 8 million units per week through a £3m investment programme and a significantly increased headcount.”
Export Award sponsored by Marketing Lancashire
Winner: Northern Industrial, Blackburn
Judges said: “Northern Industrial is now a truly global company, utilising new and innovative ideas to push the business forward. A six-language website and multi-lingual employees are supporting exceptional export growth which is not solely reliant on European markets.”
Family Business Award sponsored by Mattioli Woods
Winner: Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, Preston
Judges said: “The sense of ‘family’ runs right through this business with dynamic and enthusiastic younger members bringing wider-world experiences to the table. The ‘Butlerness’ personal development programme is a fantastic initiative.”
Financial Services Award sponsored by The Growth Company
Winner: Asset Finance Solutions, Blackburn
Judges said: “Bringing new thinking to the sector, Asset have a vision of the future through a franchising approach.”
Growing Business Award sponsored by Rowan
Winner: Sales Geek, Altham
Judges said: “This ambitious business has a clear and robust business development plan, based on authentic values, that is on target to revolutionise sales training through the effective use of digital technology.”
Healthcare Business Award
Winner: Hexagon Care Services, Preston
Judges said: A solid business model that is changing the care industry. Alongside financial success, the strong values , ethos and absolute care for their clients shone through.”
In-house Training Award sponsored by 3ManFactory
Winner: Hexagon Care Services, Preston
Judges said: “Hexagon have meticulously developed their training platforms with the ‘head, heart and hands’ concept and show good evidence of the results of training on staff and the business.”
Innovation in Business Award sponsored by University of Central Lancashire
Winner: Sundown Solutions, Accrington
Judges said: “Sundown Solutions is using encrypted algorithm technology to improve patient care and reduce bed-blocking across the NHS, significantly increasing health and care outcomes for patients.”
Large Business Award sponsored by Forbes Solicitors
Winner: SACO, Burnley
Judges said: “An incredible market-leading business with continual investment into the operations and its people, SACO firmly puts Lancashire on the international stage with 82% of their product being exported around the world.”
Legal Services Award sponsored by Eventus Recruitment Group
Winner: Harrison Drury Solicitors, Preston
Judges said: “Harrison Drury are driven to deliver best-in-class business with repeatable values that run throughout the company. Very Lancashire-focused and great evidence of growth.”
Leisure and Hospitality Business Award sponsored by Porsche Centre Bolton
Winner: Crow Wood Leisure, Burnley
Judges said: “A truly fantastic business, they attract worldwide customers whilst retaining substantial local customer loyalty. Crow Wood source all their products locally too, further enhancing their contribution to their local economy.”
Manufacturing Business Award sponsored by Barclays
Winner: Dr. Oetker, Leyland
Judges said: “Dr. Oetker has innovated, diversified and evolved, reducing packaging and carbon footprint while recycling energy. The manufacturer is leading the way with 40% of the UK’s frozen pizza market and the three most popular products.”
Medium Business Award sponsored by Baldwins
Winner: Spiroflow, Clitheroe
Judges said: “This Lancashire business is making the most of innovation and technology to deliver an excellent client experience with end-users being household names.”
New Business Award sponsored by Four Recruitment
Winner: Sales Geek, Altham
Judges said: “From a standing start this new business has achieved significant growth through innovation and investment in people and technology - with more to come.”
Not-for-profit Business Award sponsored by United Utilities
Winner: Preston Vocational Centre, Thornton
Judges said: “With incredible results for parts of the community often overlooked, Preston Vocational Centre’s passion and innovation made them the winner in a very close contest.”
Online Sales Award sponsored by Motionlab
Winner: Northern Industrial, Blackburn
Judges said: “Great results, superb growth and innovative ideas are stemming from utilising all areas of digital – backed up by impressive evidence of growth through online activities.”
Property Business Award sponsored by Harrison Drury Solicitors
Winner: David Cox Architects, Preston
Judges said: “The practice is involved in stand-out building projects, has invested in technology, puts faith in its young team members and is active in the community as a founder of Preston Partnership.”
Retail Business Award sponsored by Nybble IT
Winner: The Whalley Wine Shop, Whalley
Judges said: “With a solid understanding of the market, the competitive landscape and with plans for growth, Whalley Wine Shop is an excellent representation of Lancashire business.”
Small Business Award sponsored by Albert Harrison
Winner: Sales Geek, Altham
Judges said: “Sales Geek have grown rapidly, investing in personnel and technology. They are an ambitious, people-centric business with a moral compass and have created an environment that everybody wants to be a part of.”
Lancashire Business View Award
Winner: Age Concern Central Lancashire, Preston
Judges said: “Hard work, ingenuity and impact: this organisation may be in the not-for-profit environment, but it runs like a well-oiled business should and has measurable impact for service users across the county.”
Headline sponsors of the awards are Forbes Solicitors and Barclays. The judging partner is Blackpool and The Fylde College. The awards are also sponsored by 3ManFactory, Albert Harrison, AMRC North West, Baldwins, Bigtank, Bizspace, Boost and Rosebud, Campbell and Rowley, Community Foundation for Lancashire, Eventus Recruitment Group, Four Recruitment, Fun at Work, Harrison Drury Solicitors, James’ Places, Leonard Dews, Marketing Lancashire, Mattioli Woods, Motionlab, Napthens Solicitors, Nybble IT, Pendle Engineering, Peter Scott Printers, Pink Link, Porsche Centre Bolton, Ribby Hall Village, Rowan Group, RSM, Seriun, Stanley House Hotel and Spa, Sundown Solutions, The Growth Company, The Rovers Events, UCLan, United Utilities, VEKA and WEC Group. The charity partner is Cash for Kids.