Blackburn and Darwen Business Awards finalists announced

Businesses across Blackburn and Darwen are celebrating after being shortlisted as finalists in the inaugural Hive Blackburn and Darwen Business Awards.

Successful businesses have had their written entries validated and scored against strict criteria to be named one of four finalists in each category. A full list can be viewed below.

Finalists will now face an interview and presentation stage with judges made up of sponsors, business leaders and independent experts. The dedicated judging day will take place on April 15 at the Red Rose Suite at Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

Winners will be announced at the black-tie ceremony which takes place on April 30 at the magnificent Blackburn Cathedral.

Khalid Saifullah, chairman of the Hive Network and Director of local manufacturing firm Star Tissue UK, comments: “The response to the awards has been great and we’re looking forward to meeting the shortlisted businesses at the interview stage.

“The awards really highlight the fantastic businesses we have within the borough and we’re pleased they’ve taken this opportunity to shout about what they do and celebrate the extraordinary people working for them.”

Headline sponsors of the Hive Blackburn and Darwen Business Awards are Blackburn College and Capita. The awards are also supported by Bowker Motor Group, Business and Enterprise Trust, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Forbes Solicitors, Heritage Envelopes, Napthens Solicitors, Pierce, Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE), Ronset and Taheedul Eudcation Trust. Media partners are The Bee FM, Square Cactus, Lancashire Business View and BBC Radio Lancashire.

Hive is a group of business leaders working together to inspire prosperity and is supported by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

The Bright Spark Award • Blackburn Alarms, Daniel Devitt • Chase Templeton, Lynsey Doran • Twist Event Catering, Megan Gallacher • WEC Group, James Pickles

The Eureka Award • Prefix Systems • Scancapture • Twist Event Catering • WEC Goup

The Enterprise in Education Award • Blackburn College • Darwen Aldridge Community Academy • Training 2000 • Westholme School

The Creative Agency Award • Contrado Digital • Gregory Audio Visual • Source Creative • TPW Design Consultants

The High Growth Award • Access Ability CIC • AMT Lawyers • Lance Mason • Northern Industrial

The International Achievement Award • Contrado Digital • Northern Industrial • Precision Polymer Engineering • Sovereign Beverage Company

The Investing in the Future Award • Lance Mason • Northern Industrial • Twin Valley Homes • WEC Group

The Manufacturing Excellence Award • Precision Polymer Engineering • Prefix Systems • WEC Group • Woodscape

The Newcomer Award • Access Ability CIC • Praetura Asset Finance • Prefix Systems • Pure Star Cleaning The Young Entrepreneur Award • Blackburn Alarms • Chocolat By Daniel Coletta • Contrado Digital • Duffin's Estate Agents