Family businesses honoured at new awards ceremony

The Family Business Network has honoured the best family-owned enterprises in the region at its first ever annual awards ceremony.

Among the winners was Fleetwood-based Partingtons Holiday Centres, which took the crown of overall North West Family Business of the Year triumphing over nominations from across Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.

All winners will now go forward to the Family Business United National Family Business Awards held in London on June 4.

Sue Howorth, Founder and co-director of The Family Business Network and The North West Family Business Awards said: "The response from the business sector and the public has been fantastic for this inaugural event. We had 192 entries and it was a tough job for the judges as the standard of entries was so high.

"The support from the public who helped select the winners of the People's Choice and Employee of the Year was outstanding. We had over 4,537 votes for the People's Choice and over 3,354 for the Employee of the Year."

Full list of winners

Business & Community
Stan Sherlock Associates, Carlisle

Property & Construction
Story Decorating Group, Carlisle

Emerging Family Business
The Milking Parlour, Carnforth

Food and Drink Establishments
Atkinsons Coffee Roasters – J Atkinson & Co, Lancaster

Food and Drink Producers
Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, Preston

Wholesalers
Dunsters Farm, Bury

Retailers
Bluebell Fitted Furniture, Sale

Large Manufacturing & Engineering
George Cox & Sons, Bolton

Small Manufacturing & Engineering
First Trace Heating Direct, Preston

Transport & Logistics
Spencer Graham Coaches, Wigton

Large Leisure & Tourism
Partington's Holiday Centres, Fleetwood

Small Leisure & Tourism
Upfront Arts Venue, Penrith

Science & Technology
Kendal Nutricare, Kendal

Non-Family Leader
Marni Millard OBE of Nichols PLC, Newton le Willows

People's Choice Lancashire
Pendle Doors, Darwen

Employee of the Year
Mark Porter of Higginsons of Grange, Grange over Sands

Judges Award
JJ Smith & Co, Liverpool

North West Family Business of the Year
Partingtons Holiday Centres, Fleetwood

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