The cream of the county honoured at Red Rose Awards

The winners at Lancashire’s biggest celebration of business have been revealed at a glittering awards evening.

More than 1,100 guests attended the Red Rose Awards held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool last night.

They saw 26 awards handed out to innovative, creative and successful businesses from across the county, representing a variety of sectors.

The finalists in this year’s awards generated more than £1.35bn in revenue for the county and made over £1bn in profits.

The Lancashire Business View Award went to Blackpool-based Laila’s Fine Foods.

Founded in 1986 by Laila Remtulla, the chilled and frozen ready meal specialist today employs 370 people and produces 90,000 meals a day.

It is a family business, Laila’s husband Nazir is joint managing director and their three daughters Natasha, Rishma and Zera are directors. They were there last night to share in the success.

A delighted Laila said: “There are so many great businesses in Lancashire and to be recognised in this way is just exceptional. We are very proud.”

Burnley business Veka received the Large Business Award and another Burnley company, catering food and drink supplier Birchall Foodservice, ended the night with a hat-trick of honours.

It walked away with the awards for Customer Service, Employer of the Year and Family Business.

The independent family owned business was established in 1939. It offers next day delivery on a comprehensive range of foods and non-food products for caterers.

Three generations of the Birchall family involved in the business were at the event to receive the awards.

Colin Birchall, whose grandfather founded the business, said: “It’s part of our life. As a family we’ve been very fortunate in having members who have been interested and capable in business.”

And director Keith Horner added: “It’s been a fantastic night for us. It’s a real team effort, everyone in the business works hard for each other.”

Veka operations director Paul Armstrong said: “We’ve been here 30 years. It is about investing in the future, investing in people and investing in the local area.”

Warden Construction did the double on the night, lifting the Construction Business and Corporate Social Responsibility awards.

Estelle Harris, business development co-ordinator, said: “We take CSR really seriously and enjoy doing it. We want to improve the society we live in.”

The business has a skills and training academy and is working with a school in Blackpool to offer young people an insight into the world of work.

The Red Rose Awards was a sell-out event for the fourth consecutive year and guests enjoyed a lively evening of entertainment.

Funds were raised on the night to support the Cash For Kids charity in Lancashire.

Pauline Rigby, partner and head of corporate and restructuring at headline sponsor Forbes Solicitors, said: “Lancashire has a can-do attitude personified by the people in this room tonight.”

She added: “There’s a Lancashire way about our business leaders that is instantly recognisable and was apparent throughout the judging process.”

Phil Owen, relationship director at headline sponsor Barclays, added: “Lancashire has a wonderful history and a lot to be proud of, with many diverse and well run businesses. This year’s entries to the awards have proved no exception.”

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View magazine, which stages the awards, said: “The Red Rose Awards are about giving Lancashire business the opportunity to show how great they are and how deep the county’s commercial excellence runs.

“Everything you need to run a successful business can be supplied from the county and we see it as our role, through the magazine and at events like Red Rose Awards, to showcase the great businesses we have.”

Here’s a full list of the winners: Here’s a full list of the winners: Construction Business Award (sponsored by Anderton Gables) Warden Construction (Kirkham) Creative Agency Award (sponsored by Peter Scott Printers) Workhouse Creative Marketing (Ribchester) Corporate Social Responsibility Award (sponsored by Mattioli Woods) Warden Construction Customer Service Award (sponsored by Stonehouse Logic) Birchall Foodservice (Burnley) Digital Agency Award (sponsored by Marketing Lancashire) Wired Marketing (Burnley) Employer of the Year Award (sponsored by NWEEG ) Birchall Foodservice Engineering Business Award (sponsored by Preston’s College) Process Instruments (Burnley) Family Business Award –(sponsored by LH Recruitment) Birchall Foodservice Financial Business Award (sponsored by Enterprise Ventures/Rosebud) Asset Finance Solutions (Blackburn) Growing Business Award (sponsored by Mayes Accountants) CMAC Partnership (Accrington) Health and Care Business Award (sponsored by Limitless PR & Marketing) the Hub pharmacy (Skelmersdale) Innovative Business Award- (sponsored by Genting Casino) Levity Crop Science (Bilsborrow) International Achievement Award (sponsored by Cassons) Group55 (Preston) Large Business Award (sponsored by Forbes Solicitors) VEKA (Burnley) Legal Business Award (sponsored by Eventus Legal) Harrison Drury Solicitors (Preston) Manufacturing Business Award (sponsored by Barclays) Pets Choice (Blackburn) Medium Business Award (sponsored by Beever and Struthers) VetPlus (Lytham) New Business Award (sponsored by Business & Enterprise Trust) 10ACIA (Lathom) Not-for-profit Business Award – DanceSyndrome (Accrington) Online Business Award (sponsored by Bespoke Digital Agency) Chemist-4-U (Skelmersdale) Property Business Award (sponsored by Slater + Gordon Lawyers) Artal (Leyland) Retail Business Award (sponsored by Fat Media) Chorley Group (Chorley) Skills and Training Business Award – Primary Engineer (Burnley) Small Business Award (sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses) Silverwoods Waste Management (Clitheroe) Tourism and Leisure Business Award (sponsored by NFU Mutual) James’ Places (Clitheroe) Lancashire Business View Award – Laila’s Fine Foods (Blackpool)