Colin is Lancashire’s business personality of the year

A standing ovation welcomed Colin Mustoe to the stage as he was named Lancashire Business View’s ‘Business Personality of the Year’.

A stunned Colin received the honour at the magazine’s Lancashire Business Day celebration, which was a sell-out event at Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park.

Presenting the annual award, Richard Slater, chairman of Lancashire Business View, told the audience the founder of Senator Group and owner of Mytton Fold Hotel “embodies what is great about Lancashire”.

He added: “He also proves you don’t have to start your life in Lancashire to be a phenomenal Lancastrian.”

Speaking after the event, Colin, 78, said: “It is a great honour. I have won some awards before, but I certainly did not expect to win this one.

“There is a lot of pride in the business sectors in Lancashire. I am from London, and I came up here and feel there is a great warmth from people. They take you into their heart.”

The audience heard how Colin’s business journey began in 1976 selling chairs from an attic in Blackburn.

Today Senator is one of Lancashire’s best-known businesses, with its headquarters at Altham Business Park in Accrington. It employs 1,500 people, with a £220m annual turnover and a global reach. At this year’s Red Rose Awards it won both the ESG and export categories.

Dave Walker, managing director of +24, who sponsored the event, was full of praise for Colin, who is also chairman of the Royal Lancashire Show.

He said: “Colin is a Lancashire stalwart that has built such an incredible business and invested in areas and the impact he has had on the county has been quite phenomenal. We are very lucky to have people like Colin here.

Dave added: “It was fantastic event. More than 120 businesses all coming to celebrate the great work we do here in Lancashire.”

Lancashire Business Day began with Great Harwood town crier Rawden Kerr welcoming guests with the Lancashire proclamation. David Dunwell chief executive of Lancashire Mind talked the impact businesses can have on the charity.

A ‘Future is Bright’ panel consisted of Yasir Patel from Cluster Club, Margaret Speight from North Star Projects, and Leon Crosby from Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone.

Yasir shared how he won a Channel 4 television programme competition and how it led to getting orders for 100,000 units for his healthy snacks from supermarket group Aldi.

He inspired the audience by sharing what piece of advice he would give himself as a 17-year-old. He said: “Look at your friend circle, that makes a big difference who you hang around with. I would tell myself to find the right people to give myself better opportunities.

“It does not have to be so complicated. Everyone has an opinion and something to say but don’t overthink it. Make mistakes deal with it and carry on.”

Margaret added to “not give up on your dreams”. She added: “Keep honing your skills and your craft and the more you try new things the more you will surprise yourself.”

Leon said: “Do what you have a passion for, do what makes you happy or do what you are good at. Start with those three things and the rest will work itself out.”

Andrew Buchanan, director for pubs and brewing at Thwaites; Gill Hall from Butler Farmhouse Cheeses; Amanda Parker, the Lord Lieutenant for Lancashire who runs Browsholme Hall, and Colin Mustoe took part in an ‘Established Entrepreneurs Panel’.

Gill told the audience how her family business overcome the odds after a huge blaze wiped out 95 per cent of its product and space. She said: “You don’t survive 90 years without problems including wars and we will survive it.”

She also thanked local businesses for their support in the wake of the blaze, saying: “I cannot speak highly enough about them.”

The event was sponsored by +24 while Allica Bank, Beever and Struthers, Burnley College, Financial Affairs and Trident Utilities were patrons.

The event’s digital partner was BigTank Productions and it was supported by Vantage Motor Group and charity partner Lancashire Mind.

Held every year since 2017, Lancashire Business Day coincides with Lancashire Day, which celebrates the day in November when the county first sent representatives to Parliament, more than 700 years ago.