E3 Business Awards 2016 winners announced

The finals of the 2016 E3 Business Awards took place on the evening of Friday 3 June at the Macron Stadium in Bolton. The winners were announced in front of an audience of over 400 delegates, representing a broad spectrum of North West companies, universities, investors and business support organisations.

There were seventeen award categories in all - one more than last year. The extra category was a late addition - the Charity of the Year Award - introduced in response to a pronounced surge in high quality nominations from the voluntary sector.

Across all award categories, the number of entries broke the previous years' records. The nominations themselves were judged by an independent, seventeen-strong panel of entrepreneurs, academics and business support professionals. Nominees were first assessed on the basis of written submissions and the shortlisted candidates were then interviewed face-to-face by the judging panel.

The winners were:

New Business Start-Up of the Year:Winner: Contour Cosmetics Based: Manchester Award partner: Federation of Small Businesses

Corporate Social Responsibility Award:Winner: Matrix 24/7 Based: Rossendale, Lancashire Award partner: Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Charity of the Year:Winner: Mancunian Way Based: Manchester Award partner: Affilius Group

Social Enterprise of the Year:Winner: Pendle Action for the Community Based: Nelson, Lancashire Award partner: Adaptive Comms

Skills, Education and Training Award:Winner: NCC Resources Based: Saint Helens, Merseyside Award partner: Knights Professional Services

Employer of the Year:Winner: Jobwise Based: Bolton, G. Manchester Award partner: Preston’s College

Professional Firm of the Year:Winner: My Accountancy Place Based: Manchester Award partner: Together

Young Entrepreneur of the Year:Winner: Charlotte Miskell (of Contour Cosmetics) Based: Manchester Award partner: University of Bolton

Outstanding Woman in Business Award:Winner: Julie Robinson (of Alliance Learning) Based: Horwich, G. Manchester Award partner: Merseyside Women of the Year

Green Business of the YearWinner: JWS Waste & Recycling Services Based: Salford, G. Manchester Award partner: Payal Events

Family Business of the YearWinner: Edward Mellor Based: Stockport, G. Manchester Award partner: Leisure Guard Security

Online Business of the Year:Winner: Contour Cosmetics Based: Manchester Award partner: Ice Box Designs

Customer Service Award:Winner: Accessplanit Based: Lancaster, Lancashire Award partner: HSBC

Manufacturing Business of the Year:Winner: Slingco Based: Whitworth, Lancashire Award partner: Powder Systems Limited

High Growth Business of the Year:Winner: Lantei Compliance Services Based: Preston, Lancashire Award partner: CLB Coopers Chartered Accountants

International Business of the Year:Winner: Northern Industrial Based: Blackburn, Lancashire Award partner: UK Trade & Investment

E3 Business of the Year:Winner: Vision Support Services Based: Blackburn, Lancashire Award partner: 1 Business Enterprise

Speaking on behalf of 1 Events Media, managing director Mubarak Chati, said: "It's strange to think that the E3 Business Awards are now in their fourth year. It seems like such a short time since we first sat down and decided to organise something that would represent the very best of the North West. We wanted to celebrate the hard-working companies, the charities and the entrepreneurs who, together, were changing the fortunes of the region.

"Now, in 2016, there's no doubt that we're achieving that. The quality of the competition has been astonishing, and I'm very proud that we are giving clear public recognition to all the energy, thought and passion that North West professionals are putting into their work. That commitment is having a real effect on the regional economy, on communities and on people's lives - and seeing the success our nominees have been achieving should give us all confidence in the region's future."

The final award of the evening was the 2016 Special Achievement Award, which went to Assembly Solutions Ltd, a Bolton-based manufacturer of cable assemblies and wiring looms.

Thanking all the guests, judges and finalists for their attendance, Mubarak Chati took the opportunity to announce the date of the inaugural E3 Business Conference, which will be held on Wednesday 12th October 2016. Designed to pursue similar aims to the E3 Awards and the E3 Expo, the E3 Conference will provide a platform for North West businesses to get together, build new relationships and hear expert views on a range of subjects relevant to the economic future of the North West.

Next year's E3 Business Awards will take place on Thursday 13 July 2017. More details of both events are available on the E3 Awards website - www.e3businessawards.co.uk. Photographs on the 2016 Awards will also be posted there shortly.