The final countdown: Red Rose Awards 2020 shortlist revealed

The finalists of the Red Rose Awards 2020 have been chosen as the countdown continues to the biggest night in Lancashire’s business calendar.

Spanning microbusinesses to international brand names, a full spectrum of industries and representatives from every part of Lancashire, this year’s awards have attracted the strongest set of entrants in its ten-year history.

The finalists will now be invited to present their case in person before an expert panel of judges which will be tasked with picking one winner from the six contenders in each of 25 categories. The ultimate decision rests in the hands of 70 entrepreneurs, business owners and experienced decision makers, who will meet over two days at Ewood Park in Blackburn in February.

The identity of the winners will be kept as a closely guarded secret until the black tie prize giving ceremony on Thursday 12 March 2020 at Winter Gardens Blackpool, where an audience of more than 1,100 will hear which businesses and organisations have triumphed.

Sarah Hall, head of business development at Blackpool and The Fylde College who are judging partner for the awards for the second year running said: “Every year the standard of award entries goes from strength to strength - a clear indication that business owners are increasing their commitment to the development and upskilling of their teams.

“As ever, B&FC is hugely excited to be part of the Red Rose Awards. We can't wait to celebrate the winners and their achievements!”

Oliver Burton, CEO at Forbes Solicitors, headline sponsors of the awards for the tenth year, said: “The judging element of the awards is always enjoyable even after ten years! Deciding the finalists is a very difficult task so all finalists should be proud to reach it to this stage. We look forward to meeting them on the interview days to hear more about their success stories in Lancashire and beyond.”

John Stanworth, head of corporate banking at Barclays in Lancashire, a headline sponsor for seven years, added: “As always the award entries have been of a very high standard making judging a very difficult job indeed! It’s always great to read about different businesses in the county and their success stories.

“We are looking forward to meeting the finalists at the next stage and celebrating their successes on the night of the Awards.”

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View, which stages the Red Rose Awards, said: “This has already proven to be a fantastic year for the Red Rose Awards campaign. We always work to improve on the previous year’s event and by amending the timeline, and bringing the entry deadline forward, we have enabled more businesses to take part. The result has been more entries than ever before, which is great news for the county of Lancashire but makes the jobs of our judges all that more difficult!

“The awards have grown in popularity over the years and more and more businesses are getting involved. This has been reflected in the number and the calibre of sponsors showing their support, which has also increased. This goes to show how exciting and vibrant the Lancashire economy is and that businesses of all stripes are enthusiastic about an opportunity to come together and celebrate each others’ successes.”

The judging partner for Red Rose Awards 2020 is Blackpool and The Fylde College. Headline sponsors are Forbes Solicitors and Barclays.

The awards are also sponsored by 3ManFactory, Albert Harrison, Baldwins, Bigtank, Bizspace, Boost and Rosebud, Campbell and Rowley, Community Foundation for Lancashire, Eventus Recruitment Group, Four Recruitment, Fun at Work, Harrison Drury Solicitors, James’ Places, Leonard Dews, Marketing Lancashire, Mattioli Woods, Motionlab, Napthens Solicitors, Nybble IT, Pendle Engineering, Peter Scott Printers, Pink Link, Porsche Centre Bolton, Ribby Hall Village, Rowan Group, RSM, Seriun, Stanley House Hotel and Spa, Sundown Solutions, The Growth Company, The Rovers Events, UCLan, VEKA and WEC Group. The charity partner is Cash for Kids.

Please send below for a list of finalists:

Construction Business Award

10ACIA Construction

Blackpool Industrial Roofing

Collinson Construction

Conlon Construction

Pinington

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

C2 Investments & Lancaster Brewery

Conlon Construction

DePuy Synthes

Lancaster House Hotel

PH7 Wealth Management

Sundown Solutions

Creative Business Award

4Wall Entertainment

Bigtank Productions

Media Village

Root Fifty Two

SCOPIC Productions

Think!Creative

Customer Service Award

Better2Know

Progress Housing Group's Progress Connect team

Skiddle

The Bee Centre

The Fun Experts

UPS Building & Maintenance

Digital Business Award

+24 Marketing

21Digital

Blue Wren

Fat Media

Motionlab

Yellowphin

Employer of the Year Award

Asset Finance Solutions

Better2Know

Blackpool Transport Sevices

Burnley College

DePuy Synthes

Rowan Group

Engineering Business Award

PDS CNC Engineering

Pendle Engineering

SACO

Spiroflow

Suprafilt

Tooling Solutions

Export Award

CBD One

Group55

Lantex Manufacturing Co.

Nextday Freight

Northern Industrial

SACO

Family Business Award

Alben Landscapes

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses

Crow Wood Leisure

Pinington

Plumbs

Ribby Hall Village

Financial Services Award

Asset Finance Solutions

Begbies Traynor

Brown & Co

Haworths Chartered Accountants

MacMahon Leggate Chartered Accounts

Pennine Wealth Solutions

Growing Business Award

National Care Group

Private Label Nutrition

Sales Geek

Tailor Made Sourcing

the low carbon energy company

WRKSPACE

Healthcare Business Award

Better2Know

Hexagon Care Services

Kepplegate

National Care Group

PH7 Wellbeing Centre

Tagtronics

In-house Training Award

Hexagon Care Services

Lantei

Like Technologies

Pendleside Hospice

Progress Housing Group's Progress Connect team

Sundown Solutions

Innovation in Business Award

Alison Handling

CheckedSafe

Smart-Grid Technology

Sundown Solutions

The Fun Experts

The Modern Milkman

Large Business Award

Crow Wood Leisure

DePuy Synthes

Dr. Oetker

National Care Group

Plumbs

SACO

Legal Services Award

Baines Wilson

BSG Solicitors

Burys Solicitors

Curtis Law

Harrison Drury Solicitors

WHN Solicitors

Leisure and Hospitality Business Award

Autism Friendly Caravans

Crow Wood Leisure

Lancaster House Hotel

Lancaster On Ice

Ream Hills Holiday Park

Samlesbury Hall

Manufacturing Business Award

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses

Dr. Oetker

Group55

Lantex Manufacturing Co.

Pakawaste Group

Private Label Nutrition

Medium Business Award

Edison Pope

Fat Media

Private Label Nutrition

Spiroflow

Suprafilt

Tailor Made Sourcing

New Business Award

Aspire UK Interiors

H&A Protection Services

Sales Geek

Sandgrown Spirits

Stortec Engineering

The Transform Hub

Not-for-profit Business Award

Age Concern Central Lancashire

Fleetwood Town Community Trust

Preston Vocational Centre

The Bee Centre

The Larder

Wildwood days

Online Sales Award

CBD One

Display Wizard

EPSL Educational Printing

Northern Industrial

Skiddle

The Modern Milkman

Property Business Award

Anderton Gables

David Cox Architects

Edgewater Oaks

Jones Melling

WRKSPACE

Zara Moon Architects

Retail Business Award

Choc Amor

LANX

Leonard Dews Jewellers

Pendleside Hospice

Sandgrown Spirits

The Whalley Wine Shop

Small Business Award

Alison Handling

Group55

Nextday Freight

PH7 Wealth Management

Sales Geek

WRKSPACE

For more details on the awards please click here.