Red Rose Awards rocks Blackpool

Blackpool’s Winter Gardens welcomed more than 900 Lancashire high flyers for a raucous and well-deserved night of celebration at the third annual Red Rose Awards, in association with Forbes Solicitors.

Billed as the event which takes business seriously, but does so with a smile on its face, the Red Rose Award recognises the achievements of the county’s finest companies. Winners were selected in 20 categories, covering all sizes and industries.

A special publisher’s choice award was given to Barrowford’s ACDC to honour its rapid growth and string of international achievements over recent years.

Red Rose Awards founder and Lancashire Business View publisher Richard Slater said of the LED lighting company: “We featured ACDC in our very first edition when they were just starting out. They knew they were on to something and it turned out they were right. Now they’re lighting up the world.”

ACDC chief executive Gareth Frankland said: “We thoroughly love what we do. We’re at the top and we’re going higher.”

BBC Radio Lancashire host Graham Liver presented the awards, whilst the Blackburn with Darwen Music Service Big Band – average age 16 – and the 1950s R&B combo The Revolutionaires provided the entertainment to open and close the night.

A Twitter wall provided by Marsden Rawsthorn kept guests entertained throughout the night and the Love to Brand photobooth gave revelers the opportunity to let their hair down and capture the moment for posterity.

Richard added: “The Red Rose Awards is a right good Lancashire do. We make a lot of noise, we eat some great food and we make a big fuss of all the businesses in the county that are making waves in their industries. We’ve unearthed some great stories and it’s great to be able to shout about them.”

A full review and picture gallery will featured in the May/June edition of Lancashire Business View.

Full list of winners:

Environmental Impact Award, sponsored by Lantei: Roaming Roosters, Higham

Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year, sponsored by Napthens Canal Boat Cruises, Preston

Commitment to Skills Award, sponsored by BAE Systems Mad Science, Preston

Start-up Business of the Year, sponsored by Enterprise4all The Ink Squid, Blackpool

Carer-friendly Employer of the Year, sponsored by Mosaic Community Care Holiday Inn Preston

Small Business of the Year, sponsored by the Federation of Small Businesses Ashberry Recruitment, Nelson

Rural Business of the Year Silverwoods Waste Management, Clitheroe

Not-for-profit Award, sponsored by Danbro The Legacy Rainbow House, Ormskirk

Creative Business of the Year, sponsored by Peter Scott Printers Door4, Nelson

Environmental Technology Business of the Year, sponsored by WEC Group Kirk Environmental, Nelson

International Achievement Award, sponsored by Blackburn College Panaz, Fence

Manufacturing Business of the Year, sponsored by Cassons Apeks Marine Equipment, Blackburn

Financial Business of the Year Mayes Accountants, Accrington

Medium Business of the Year, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank Denwa Communications, Barrowford

Property or Construction Business of the Year, sponsored by Obas UK Red Rose Dry Lining, Darwen

Law Firm of the Year, sponsored by Ashton Hoyle Napthens, Preston

Retailer of the Year, sponsored by 2BR and The Bee Reidys Home of Music, Blackburn

Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Laura Hartley Recruitment Roaming Roosters, Higham

Online Business of the Year, sponsored by the Lancashire Business View Buying Hub iflorist, Padiham

Large Business of the Year, sponsored by Forbes Solicitors ACDC, Barrowford

Publisher’s Choice Award ACDC, Barrowford