Red Rose shortlists and new sponsor announced

More than 160 businesses were represented at the shortlisting sessions in Preston by nearly 300 delegates.

Seven panels of judges, made up of sponsors, business leaders and other independents, grilled the businesses on their entries in brief interviews to create the shortlist.

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View magazine, said: “The common thread, from the biggest to the smallest business in our longlist, was passion and vision.

“We heard stories of determination, of succeeding against the odds and of success – which is exactly what the Red Rose Awards wants to celebrate, and what we do in every edition of Lancashire Business View magazine.

“The judges found the process inspirational but also very difficult as the entries and presentations were of such a high standard.”

Meanwhile, another high profile sponsor has been announced.

Bizspace is a leading provider of managed workspace throughout the UK offering flexible business space for both short term occupation or longer term commercial property leasing solutions, to the SME, start-up company and corporate markets.

The company, which has sites across Lancashire and the UK, is to sponsor the Start-Up Award.

Emma Long, Bizspace’s sales and marketing director, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Red Rose Awards. We understand the importance of sharing successes with a wide audience – it’s great for morale, and is very good for business!

“Judging the awards was a tough task for us and our fellow judges this was down to the pride and energy invested by the businesses.

“We look forward to celebrating with all the shortlisted candidates in Blackpool next month.”

Lancashire Business View Red Rose Awards 2012 in association with Forbes Solicitors

The shortlists:

Creative Business of the Year
Fat Media - Lancaster
Home Creative - Blackpool
Motionlab - Preston
MTJ Associates - Leyland
Oneighty - Colne
Red-Fern Media - Altham
Sprocket DC - Lancaster
Touch - Blackburn

Online Business of the Year
Cleverboxes - Accrington
Copify - Lancaster
Door4 - Nelson
North'n Exposure - Preston
Skiddle.com - Preston
SMUK Solutions - Clitheroe
Wax Daddy Car Care - Accrington

Financial Business of the Year
Cassons Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers - Rossendale
Danbro - Blackpool
J S Accountancy - Clitheroe
Kingsley Asset Finance - Chorley
Moore and Smalley - Preston
PM+M Solutions for Business - Blackburn
Taylor Patterson Group - Preston
True Bearing - Chartered Financial Planners - Euxton

Industrial Business of the Year
ACDC - Nelson
European Manufacturing Solutions - Clitheroe
Fort Vale Engineering - Burnley
JJO - Bacup
VEKA - Burnley
WEC Group - Darwen
What More UK - Burnley

Law Firm of the Year
Ascroft Whiteside - Blackpool
Brabners Chaffe Street - Preston
Farleys Solicitors - Accrington / Blackburn / Burnley
Harrison Drury - Preston
Marsden Rawsthorn - Preston
Napthens Solicitors – Preston

Property or Construction Business of the Year
CityBlock - Lancaster
Conlon Construction - Preston
Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors - Euxton
Mortimers Estate Agents - Accrington
Rosslee Construction - Accrington
Trevor Dawson & Company - Blackburn
UK Restoration Services - Burnley
Woodscape - Blackburn

Rural Business of the Year
Browsholme Hall and the Tithe Barn - Clitheroe
EnviroSystems (UK) - Preston
J S Accountancy - Clitheroe
Riley's Butchers - Rossendale
Sustainable Energy Systems - Preston
Whitehead's Butchers and The Edgworth Deli - Edgworth

Technology Business of the Year
ACDC - Nelson
Cleverboxes - Accrington
Copifax - Burnley
Denwa Communications - Barrowford
Door4 - Nelson
eBusiness UK - Blackburn
Lanway CBS - Hapton
RecycleIT – Hapton

Tourism & Leisure Business of the Year
Browsholme Hall and the Tithe Barn - Clitheroe
Giddy Kippers - Nelson
Holiday Inn Preston - Preston
Oswaldtwistle Mills - Oswaldtwistle
The Hub – Buckshaw Village
The Millstone at Mellor - Blackburn
The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village - Preston
University of Central Lancashire - Preston

Retailer of the Year
Atticus Accordions - Lancaster
HallsFood Group - Chorley
Oswaldtwistle Mills - Oswaldtwistle
Riley's Butchers - Rossendale
The Whalley Wine Shop - Clitheroe

Start-up Business of the Year
Alkincoats - Citheroe
Businesswise Solutions - Nelson
Invincibles Catering - Preston
Jagger Talent Commercial Recruiters - Burnley
The Hub – Buckshaw Village
Talent Dynamics - Preston
The Finishing Touch Handwork Services - Accrington
The Foot Room - Preston

International Achievement Award
ACDC - Nelson
Blackburn Chemicals – Blackburn
Fort Vale Engineering - Burnley
Goody Good Stuff - Morecambe
Process Instruments (UK) - Burnley
SwimFin - Burscough
Talent Dynamics - Preston
What More UK - Burnley

Environmental Impact Award
Andrew Porter - Adlington
Carrylift Materials Handling - Skelmersdale
JJO - Bacup
MDA - Blackburn
Recycling Lives - Preston
Rosewood Keen Management Services - Blackpool
Rosslee Construction - Accrington
The Paper Cup Company - Clitheroe

Not for Profit Award
Child Action Northwest - Blackburn
Community and Business Partners - Blackburn
Curious Minds - Burnley
n-compass North West - Blackpool
Orvia Group - Leyland
Preston Carers Centre - Preston
The Community Foundation for Lancashire - Leyland
Thomas - Blackburn

Commitment to Skills Award
Arthur Padgett - Nelson
Cummins Mellor Recruitment - Accrington
Danbro - Blackpool
Eric Wright Group - Preston
Mad Science North West - Preston
Taylor Patterson Group - Preston
WEC Group - Darwen
Willowbrook - Oswaldtwistle

Carer friendly employer of the Year
Carers Contact at Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service - Burnley
Dr Page & Partners - Fleetwood
HallsFood Group - Chorley
Lancashire County Commercial Group - Chorley
Mosaic Community Care - Preston
Preston City Council - Preston
Willowbrook - Oswaldtwistle

Small Business of the Year
Cuffe & Taylor - Lytham St Annes
JRC Roofing Distributors - Burnley
Keyfleet Automotive - Blackburn
Laura Hartley Recruitment - Blackburn
M65 Recruitment - Blackburn
Scancapture - Blackburn
SwimFin - Burscough
The Whalley Wine Shop - Clitheroe

Medium Business of the Year
Bevlan Office Interiors - Blackburn
Cherrytree Bakery - Burnley
Copifax - Burnley
Denwa Communications - Pendle
Ibex - Preston
Mortimers Estate Agents - Accrington
Orvia Group - Leyland
Prefix Systems (UK) - Accrington

Large Business of the Year
MDA - Blackburn
Mosaic Community Care - Preston
Recycling Lives - Preston
The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village - Preston
VEKA - Burnley
WEC Group - Darwen
What More UK - Burnley
Willowbrook - Oswaldtwistle

Family Business of the Year
Blackburn Chemicals - Blackbrun
Blakedale - Chorley
CityBlock - Lancaster
Conlon Construction - Preston
eBusiness UK - Blackburn
Kitchener 2000 - Blackburn
Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co. - Rossendale
SMUK Solutions - Clitheroe

Publisher’s Choice Award
The winner of this category will be announced on the evening of the awards ceremony

The list of sponsors to date reads: Forbes Solicitors, who are the headline sponsor, Ashton Hoyle IFA, Peter Scott Printers, Lancashire County Council,Yorkshire Bank, Laura Hartley Recruitment, Huddle Media, Federation of Small Businesses, YFM Equity Partners, Napthens Solicitors, Lanway, OBAS, WEC Engineering and Bizspace.

Tickets and tables for the Red Rose Awards are available at www.redroseawards.co.uk. The event takes place on Thursday March 15 at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.