Red Rose Awards 2012 launched

This year’s inaugural event, which was organised by Lancashire Business View magazine, attracted more than 400 nominations and an audience of nearly 700 to a celebration at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens in March.

Nominations for the 2012 event opened this week and businesses have until January 26 to submit their entries via www.redroseawards.co.uk

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View, said: “This year’s Red Rose Awards gave a beleaguered business community the opportunity to showcase their work, forge new relationships and celebrate the great things that Lancashire businesses do every day.

“What we aim for with the awards and with our magazine is to remind businesses in Lancashire just how good they are and promote trade within the county - if it can be bought in Lancashire, then don’t buy it in London. That’s one way to help drive business and jobs into the county.”

Forbes Solicitors, which has offices across the county, is once again the headline sponsor of the awards.

John Barker, managing partner of Forbes, said: “We delighted and very proud to be headline sponsors of the Red Rose Awards. We see the awards as a true pan-Lancashire celebration that recognises the achievements of businesses throughout the county.

“The inaugural Red Rose Awards attracted entrants from a multitude of talented businesses across a broad range of business sectors and exceeded everyone’s expectations in its first year. The second year of the awards will build on this success, enabling even more businesses in the Red Rose County to showcase their talents and successes. We hope as many businesses as possible will enter the awards as there are categories suitable for most organisations.”

Other sponsors confirmed to date include Yorkshire Bank, Laura Hartley Recruitment, Huddle Media, the Federation of Small Businesses and YFM Equity Partners. More sponsors will be announced shortly.

To take part in the Red Rose Awards, visit www.redroseawards.co.uk. The closing date is January 26 2012 and the celebration will take place, once again at the Winter Gardens, on March 15.