A great reception for Red Rose winners

Winners and sponsors of this year’s Red Rose Awards came together at Mitton Hall in the Ribble Valley in a celebration of success and excellence in business.

The 2023 awards’ winners’ reception, sponsored by Mattioli Woods, was attended by more than 70 invited guests.

As part of the event, they took part in a masterclass held by national training company Sales Geek, former Red Rose Award winners, focusing on the importance of exceeding customer expectations and creating a customer centric culture.

The reception also heard from sponsors and judges of the Red Rose Awards, including Paul Nicholls from Barclays and David Filmer of Forbes Solicitors. Both businesses are headline awards sponsors.

David told the audience that the Red Rose Awards highlighted how many “incredible businesses” had their home in Lancashire. He said: “It’s a great place to do business. Just keep shouting about it.”

Paul added: “The calibre of candidates that came through the doors this time reached another level. I’ve been involved for six years and each year the judging gets harder and harder. You leave the room refreshed about the strength of Lancashire business.”

Other speakers at the afternoon event, hosted by Lancashire Business View chairman Richard Slater, included Keith Pressler from Mattioli Woods and Helen Wilkinson from judging partner Lancaster University.

Keith said: “There are a lot of amazing businesses based in Lancashire, we are a fantastic area.” He added: “We are here because we all want to grow and develop together.”

Jaydee Davis, operations director at business support organisation Community & Business Partners, took the opportunity of the gathering to invite all this year’s award winners to join a free peer network created exclusively for them.

Each company that takes home a trophy has been invited to join the group, where they will be able to use their collective expertise and experience to share advice and help solve problems for each other.

Jaydee explained they will also have access to business support, including taking part in masterclasses delivered by previous award winners and expert speakers on topics such as finance, recruitment and marketing.

The reception was also an opportunity to highlight this year’s winners and their achievements. Each received a framed certificate to go with the actual trophy they were presented with at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on the night.

Lancashire Business View’s managing director Stephen Bolton thanked all the businesses and organisations involved in making the Red Rose Awards such a major event and success. He told the audience: “Together we have built a community.”

The Red Rose Awards 2023 were held in association with Forbes Solicitors and Barclays. The validation partner is RSM and the judging partner is Lancaster University.

The awards are sponsored by Alcidion, Azets, Bigtank Productions, Burnley FC, Business Health Matters, Campbell & Rowley, Chorley Council, Community and Business Partners, Community Foundation for Lancashire, Cube Thinking, ELE Advanced Technologies, Four Recruitment, Fox Group, Harrison Drury Solicitors, Mattioli Woods, PDS Engineering/Pursuit Aerospace, Peter Scott Printers, Pierce, PM+M, Porsche Centre Bolton, Porsche Centre Preston, PSG Group, Napthens Solicitors, Nybble.co.uk, Quest Electrical, Sales Geek, Serconnect, The Fun Experts, The Small Business Academy, United Utilities, University of Central Lancashire and U Start Project.

The awards are supported by AMRC North West, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Daniel Thwaites, Mytton Fold, Partners&, Pink Link, Marketing Lancashire, Shout Connect and Winter Gardens Blackpool.