J.J.Sandham take home three awards at Wyre Business Awards

Cheesemakers J.J. Sandham were the big winners at the Wyre Business Awards last night after scooping three awards.

The Barton-based business walked away with the team of the year, rural business of the year and small business of the year awards at the Marine Hall in Fleetwood.

Michelle Gates, managing director, J.J. Sandham, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive our trio of awards and we are incredibly grateful for those who voted for us.

"As a family run business approaching our centenary, our business has grown and evolved over the past few years, which has been very demanding, but rewarding for all involved.

"We are now the largest dairy-only smokehouse in the UK and this takes a tremendous amount of commitment, hard work and dedication, so we are very proud that our fabulous loyal team have got the recognition they so richly deserve."

Meanwhile, Sid Hill Transport, in Thornton Cleveleys, had the final say on the night as it picked up the Wyre Business of the Year award to join their earlier Boost Growth Business of the Year award.

Mhari-Claire Doolan and the team at Poulton’s Sustainable Talent had lots to cheer about picking up the Business Person of the Year, which was sponsored by Lancashire Business View, and the New Business Award.

In the programme notes, Councillor Michael Vincent, leader of Wyre Council, highlighted how the awards ‘shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent, passion and hard work that make up our vibrant business community’.

Speaking at the start of the night he added: “Thank you for supporting the ninth edition of the Wyre Business Awards, we have had over 100 entrants across all of the categories.

“The judges have been impressed by the entries.

“These are very challenging times for business, and I also run a business and know the difficult environment is made worse by wage, national insurance and business rate rises imposed in the budget.

“These awards would not be possible without our sponsors and thank them for their generosity and support

“We all understand the importance of business in Wyre and do what we can to make the operating environment a good one by hosting events such as the Garstang Walking Festival and it gets better every time.

“The high street is a very difficult environment and needs our help and support and that is why we created the high street heroes in these awards.”

Award winners:

Boost Growth Business of the Year: Sid Hill Transport, Business Person of the Year: Mhari-Claire Doolan, Sustainable Talent, Chamber Low-Carbon Climate Action Award: A&G Precision and Sons Ltd; Team of the Year: JJ Sandham Ltd; Community and Charity Organisation of the Year: Fleetwood Town Community Trust; Cleveleys High Street Hero: Ship Wreck Brewhouse; Fleetwood High Street Hero: Healthier Fleetwood; Garstang High Street Hero: Crafty Diane; Poulton High Street Hero: Furness Building Society; Rural Business of the Year: JJ Sandham Ltd; Social Media Award: Little Legs Fabrics; New Business Award: Sustainable Talent; Health, Beauty and Wellbeing Business of the Year: Slimming World Fleetwood; Micro Business of the Year: Play and Bee; Food, Drink and Accommodation Business of the Year: The Puddled Duck, Small Business of the Year: JJ Sandham Ltd; Corporate social responsibility award: CCATS; Tourism Business of the Year: Glazey Days Creative Café and Wyre Business of the Year: Sid Hill Transport.