Red Rose Awards 2013 shortlists announced!

After two intensive days which saw more than 200 long-listed candidates interviewed by more than 30 expert judges, the shortlists for the Red Rose Awards 2013 have been announced.

The event will take place and the winners crowned on Thursday March 14 in the magnificent Empress Ballroom at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

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Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View magazine, which stages the annual Red Rose Awards, said: “The two days of judging were intense, exciting, difficult and a lot of fun!

“Our judges found it extremely hard and were full of praise for all the candidates – we look forward to a great night for Lancashire next month.”

Scroll to the end of the story to read a selection of comments from judges.

RED ROSE 2013: SHORTLIST

CREATIVE AGENCY

3ManFactory

Door4

Fat Media

ICG

Motionlab

NuBlue

The Write Angle

Workhouse Advertising and Marketing

ONLINE BUSINESS

Accessplanit

Copify

iflorist

New Call Telecom

Roaming Roosters

Simply Creative SEO

The Ink Squid

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Carepal

Danbro

Hippo Vehicle Solutions

Mayes Accountants

Moore and Smalley

Red Star Wealth Management

MANUFACTURING

ACDC

Apeks Marine Equipment

Ellison Printing

Polytank Group

Process Instruments (UK)

Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co

Veka

Woodscape

LEGAL SERVICES

Farleys Solicitors

Harrison Drury & Co

Joseph Frasier Solicitors

Napthens

Solicitor Direct

Steele Ford and Newton

Vincents

Woodcocks Inc Haworth and Nuttall

PROPERTY/CONSTRUCTION

Aldrock Surveyors

Glovers Project Services

Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors

Mortimers

Petty CS Limited

Red Rose Drylining

Thomas Barnes & Sons

UK Restoration Services

RURAL BUSINESS

Brockholes Nature Reserve

Canal Boat Cruises

Dugdales Digital

Flashbang Science

Innova Solutions

JS Accountancy

Polytank Group

Silverwoods Waste Management

TOURISM/LEISURE

After Dark Entertainment

Bacup Borough FC

Brockholes Nature Reserve

Canal Boat Cruises

Civic Arts Centre

Holiday Inn Preston

Stanley House Hotel and Spa

VIVA Blackpool

CARER FRIENDLY

Danbro

Halls Food Group

Holiday Inn Preston

Joseph Frasier Solicitors

Springhill Care Group

RETAIL BUSINESS

Bowker Motor Group

East Lancashire Hopsice Shops

Halls Food Group

Hillendale Land Rover

Millercare

Peter Jackson the Jeweller

Reidys Home of Music

Riley's Butchers

START-UP BUSINESS

Astute Motoring

Loft Leg

Positive footprints Network

Rule Creative

Sato Creative

Smart Audit Limited t/a iSchoolAudit.com

The Ink Squid

Viva Blackpool

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

ACDC

CN Creative

iflorist

Kirk Environmental

Medulla Solutions

Panaz ltd

Process Instruments (UK)

ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT

Andrew Porter

Eco Solartech

Express Asphalt

Fairport Containers

Remsol Limited

Roaming Roosters

Silverwoods Waste Management

Veka

ENVIROMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Dext Heat Recovery

Eco Solartech

Fairport Containers

Kirk Environmental

Loft Leg

Silverwoods Waste Management

Solarlec

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Affinity Supporting People

Blackburn Youth Zone

Brockholes Nature Reserve

Certain Curtain Theatre

East Lancashire Hospice

n-compass North West

Rock FM and Magic 999s Cash For Kids

The Legacy Rainbow House

COMMITMENT TO SKILLS

Ainscough Training Services

Andrew Porter

Blackburn College

Denwa Communications

Lantei

Mad Science

Magma Digital

Springhill Care Group

SMALL BUSINESS

Ashberry Recruitment

Hughes CIMA Training

Jagger Talent Commercial Recruiters

Lumenata Lighting Design

Palmer Publicity Services

Scancapture

Simply Chocolicious

TrainingStation

MEDIUM BUSINESS

Complete Network Services

Connect Technology

Denwa Communications

Eco Solartech

Exact Abacus

Key Stage Teacher Supply

Lantei

Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co

LARGE BUSINESS

ACDC

Andrew Porter

Apeks Marine Equipment

Bowker Motor Group

Danbro

Springhill Care Group

The Chorley Group

Veka

FAMILY BUSINESS

Bowker Motor Group

First Class Childcare

Lantei

NuBlue

Reidys Home of Music

Roaming Roosters

The Chorley Group

Woodscape

Here are a selection of comments from Red Rose Awards judges:

Janet Shelmerdine, Spire Fylde Coast Hospital: “The standard of entrants was very high and the face to face judging process showed what business talent we have here in Lancashire. It was great to see what passion people have for their business and how they want to show this to a wider audience.”

Ruth Connor, Marketing Lancashire: “I was impressed with the passion and ambition of the entrants in wanting to be a recognised Lancashire business success. The underlying Lancashire pride that judges, entrants and organisers promoted throughout the day was testament to the strong business offering we have here in the county.”

Debbie Pettit, Marsden Rawsthorn: “The calibre of businesses we have in Lancashire is extraordinary – it was a privilege to be able to meet with so many of them in the Red Rose Awards judging, the applicants were so outstanding it was an extremely difficult decision to select just one!”

Ian Hardman, Yorkshire Bank: “I was privileged to judge three highly competitive categories which truly demonstrated the strength and breadth of the Lancashire business community and the optimism and aspirations that the respective business owners have to better their business, their staff and their local communities."

Mark Schofield, Haworths Accountants: “Seeing so many cracking businesses is exhilarating and challenges me with my own business. It is a most fulfilling experience.”

Ian Gordon, Lancaster University Management School: “I was in awe at the quality of the presentations made by the businesses I saw.  Clearly everyone had made a great effort and you could feel the pride they had in their businesses.  It was heartening in these tough economic times to see example after example of businesses being innovative and achieving success.

“I spend a good deal of my time looking at presentations from some pretty high quality post-graduate students and these business presentations in the Red Rose Awards match and in many cases exceed anything I have seen before.

“It was an inspiring day for me as a judge and I feel honoured to have been part of such an entrepreneurial and innovative day.”

Norman Tenray, OBAS UK: “I genuinely enjoy the awards judging and being in such great company. I really appreciate the opportunity to give something back as we have been incredibly well looked after in Lancashire and, as such, I am incredibly proud to be part of such a vibrant, dynamic and entrepreneurial community

“It is a huge honour to share in the success and achievements of the Lancashire business community.”

John Stanworth, Barclays Bank: “I was absolutely bowled over at the quality of the entrants. Lancashire really is the place to do business. The diversity and breadth of business skills in the region was very apparent and it was an honour to be asked to judge such high quality and professional applications. Well done to all who entered – it’s a shame there could only be one winner!” Ben Briggs, Farmers Guardian: “A day judging the Red Rose Awards makes you realise just how passionate people are about their businesses and the county of Lancashire. It was a real pleasure to judge and you cannot help but be impressed by the standard of entries. Roll on awards night!”