REVEALED: Sub36 Awards winners 2026

The winners of the Sub36 Awards 2026 have been revealed following a celebration of Lancashire’s emerging business talent at Park Hall Resort & Spa in Chorley.

Presented by Lancashire Business View, Sub36 recognises people under 36 who are already making their mark in the county’s business community, alongside awards for businesses led by people under 36. This year’s awards brought together 67 finalists representing 48 Lancashire businesses, with 250 people attending the event.

The awards returned this year after a break. They were first launched in 2015 as The Young’Uns before being rebranded as Sub36 in 2017, with the last ceremony taking place virtually in 2020 during the Covid pandemic.

Among this year’s winners were Empine Group, which collected the Business Award, Nava Accountancy, winner of the New Business Award, and Leanne Hignett of Advocacy Focus, who took home the Leader Award.

VARS Technology also enjoyed a double success, with Lewis MacCallum winning the Digital and Tech Award and Kate Slack receiving the Employee Award.

David Dunwell, chief executive of Lancashire Mind, was named winner of the Sub36 Lancastrian Award. It is the only category selected by the Lancashire Business View team, which took advice from the awards judges and carried out its own research before making its decision.

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View and host of the awards, said: “Bringing Sub36 back has reminded us just how much emerging talent there is across Lancashire.

“The quality of this year’s finalists was outstanding and every one of them has a story worth celebrating.

“Many previous Sub36 finalists and winners have gone on to do great things, and I’m sure we’ll be saying the same about people recognised here in 2026.”

Park Hall Resort & Spa supported the event as venue partner.

Category sponsors were 24hr Healthcare, Amplify Business Success, Bigtank, The Fun Experts, Hatfields Jaguar Land Rover Preston, Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub and Westholme School. Westholme also hosted the awards judging, while TCB Signage supported the event.

A full report from the Sub36 Awards will appear in the November/December issue of Lancashire Business View.

The winners and finalists

Apprentice Development Award
Winner: Vicky Taylor, Fresh Perspective Resourcing
Finalists: Andrea Nelson, Fresh Perspective Resourcing; Dean Jelley, Helmrig; Megan Pritchard, Burnley College.

Business Award
Winner: Empine Group
Finalists: Bloomin’ Accounting; JJS Supplies.

Customer Service Award
Winner: Janis Saveljevs, JJS Supplies
Finalists: Danielle Fleming, Fresh Perspective Resourcing; Panashe Madhlambudzi, Events by Nashe; Riaz Halleron, Nybble.co.uk; Tayyib Jaffar-Ali, Sustainable Smart Technologies; Tyler Clarke, Fresh Perspective Resourcing.

Digital and Tech Award
Winner: Lewis MacCallum, VARS Technology
Finalists: Daniel Broderick, Nybble.co.uk; Daniel Jackson, Like Technologies.

Early Career Apprenticeship Award
Winner: Francis Gilbraith, Watson Ramsbottom
Finalists: Caitlin Wickham, Fresh Perspective Resourcing; Emily Dexter, Financial Affairs; Grace Slater, The Moorings Bakery; Levi Lee, Helmrig; Tom Hepworth-Harvey, Nybble.co.uk.

Employee Award
Winner: Kate Slack, VARS Technology
Finalists: Anna Panaro, Fairstone; Bianca Heap, 24hr Healthcare; Charlotte Jolliffe, Prolight Concepts; Cheryl Ashcroft, Fresh Perspective Resourcing; Chris Nightingale, Financial Affairs; Ellie Noon, Anthem Engagement; Becky McInnes, Nybble.co.uk.

Energy and Sustainability Award
Winner: Niamh Allen, Sustainable Smart Technologies
Finalists: Christopher Roberts, Roberts Electrical Solutions; Colin Elcock, Like Technologies; Lucia Arnone, Vital Synergy.

Engineering and Manufacturing Award
Winner: Ben Lupton, CoolKit
Finalist: Garfieh Cheung, Bryden Precision Engineering.

Leader Award
Winner: Leanne Hignett, Advocacy Focus
Finalists: Daniel Frampton, Acumen Financial Partnership; Charlotte Jones, Brysdales; David Dunwell, Lancashire Mind; Sally Johnson, Like Technologies; Erin Kelly, Red Rose Drylining; Robyn Amy Lee, R Tindall Fabricators; Beth McBlain, Vital Synergy.

Marketing and Creative Award
Winner: Sophie Henrys, Farleys Solicitors
Finalists: Rachael Watts, Fresh Perspective Resourcing; Katie Shepherd, fulfilmentcrowd; Margaret Speight, North Star Projects; Lauren Rankine, Two Stories; Lewis Nelson, Wiserr.

New Business Award
Winner: Nava Accountancy
Finalists: AJP Social Studio; Cotton Group; Lolli Writes; The Moorings Bakery; The Performance Studios; tolife; Your Vehicle Rental.

Professional Services Award
Winner: Emily O’Keefe, The Calico Group
Finalists: Lucas Thornley, Cortus Advisory Group; Megan Billington, Farleys Solicitors; Camille Pollitt, Financial Affairs; Tom Anderson, Fresh Perspective Resourcing; Megan Leach, PM+M; Andy Kirkaldy, PM+M; Jack Bentham, RSM.

Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Award
Winner: Callam Hartley, White Bull at Oswaldtwistle
Finalists: Lydia Dickinson, Euphoria Dance; Leyton Hargreaves, James’ Places; Sarah Lockwood, Stanley House Hotel & Spa.

Sub36 Lancastrian Award
Winner: David Dunwell, Lancashire Mind.