Winners unveiled at Lancashire’s premier celebration of business excellence

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More than 1,100 guests gathered at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool last night to celebrate business excellence at this year’s Lancashire Business View Red Rose Awards.

They saw Barnfield Construction lift the prestigious Lancashire Business View Award. The Nelson-headquartered business is involved in delivering major regeneration and development projects across east Lancashire.

Its delighted chairman and managing director Tim Webber said: “This is absolutely superb, it is an award for the whole team at Barnfield, recognition of their hard work and it is something everyone can be proud of.

“We’re so very passionate about Lancashire. Over the years we’ve worked on projects across the country, but our heart is here.”

Skelmersdale-based UPS Building and Maintenance was another big winner on the night, with a hat-trick of awards. It lifted the property business, customer service and the construction business awards.

And director John Graham revealed it was the first time ever the business had entered any awards. He said: “We’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m so glad we did. What a night, it has been fantastic! I’m delighted for the team.”

Accrington-based CMAC Group won two awards on the night, including the large business award. Chief Executive Steve Turner praised its workforce. He said: “It’s our people that make it such a special business. They are our best asset.”

AluFoldDirect, based in Blackburn, also came away with two awards – the medium business award and the manufacturing business category.

The manufacturer of aluminium frames was founded just three years ago but now employs 83 people. Owner and managing director Craig Miller said: “It’s been hard work to get where we are from a standing start. We’ve put a few hours in.”

The small business award went to Gazegill Organics with VEKA named employer of the year.

The Red Rose Awards is the event where Lancashire business, commerce and industry are celebrated. It provides the best possible platforms to promote success, and to encourage inter-trading in the county.

The awards are about the businesses that keep the county alive – the heroes of the Lancashire economy. Guests enjoyed a fabulous evening of fun and celebration at as the impressive Olympia Exhibition Centre at the Winter Gardens was transformed into a spectacular venue for the event.

The awards were hosted this year by the BBC’s Graham Liver. Organisations of all sizes from every corner of the county across a wide variety of industries were represented on the list of 150 finalists and a total of 26 winners were revealed on the night.

Lancashire Business View publisher Richard Slater praised the awards’ judges and sponsors.

He said: “The Red Rose Awards wouldn’t be possible without the help of our many wonderful sponsors, judges and suppliers.

“Their support and expertise is what helps us provide the best possible platforms to share successes and promote trade with Lancashire businesses.”

Sponsors of the awards are: Forbes Solicitors, Barclays, UCLan, 3ManFactory, Barcadia Media, Bespoke Digital Agency, Bespoke Healthcare, BGF, Birchall Foodservice, Bizspace, Blackburn & The Fylde College, Business Enterprise Trust, Cassons, EPSL Educational Printing, Eventus Legal, Global, Harrison Drury Solicitors, James’ Places, Leonard Dews, LHR, Marketing Lancashire, Mattioli Woods, Mayes Accountants, Mint Business Travel, Napthens Solicitors, Northcote at the Rovers, NWEEG, Peter Scott Printers, Porsche Centre Bolton, Recycling Lives, Rosebud and Mercia Fund Managers, RSM, Slater + Gordon, StoneHouse Logic, Sunshine Events, Tailor Made Sourcing, Themis, VEKA, Visit Blackpool, WEC Group and With a Twist.

The charity partner for Red Rose Awards 2018 is Cash for Kids and funds were raised at the event to support their work in Lancashire.

Here is the full list of winners:

Construction Business Award (sponsored by VEKA) • UPS Building & Maintenance, Skelmersdale Corporate Social Responsibility Award (sponsored by Mattioli Woods) • Winter Gardens Blackpool Creative Agency Award (sponsored by Peter Scott Printers) • Single Malt Design, Lancaster Customer Service Award (sponsored by StoneHouse Logic) • UPS Building & Maintenance, Skelmersdale Digital Agency Award (sponsored by Blackpool & The Fylde College) • Sundown Solutions, Accrington Ecommerce Business Award (sponsored by Bespoke| Digital Agency) • Albert Harrison & Co, Padiham Employer of the Year Award (sponsored by NWEEG) • VEKA, Burnley Engineering Business Award (sponsored by Tailor Made Sourcing) • MGS Technical Plastics, Blackburn Family Business Award (sponsored by LH Recruitment) • Trilanco, Wesham Financial Business Award (sponsored by Rosebud/Mercia Fund Managers) • True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners, Chorley Growing Business Award (sponsored by Mayes Accountants) • CMAC Group, Accrington Health and Care Business Award (sponsored by Slater + Gordon Lawyers) • Bespoke Healthcare, Preston In-house Training Award (sponsored by Themis) • BAE Systems, Samlesbury Innovative Business Award (sponsored by Napthens) • Levity CropScience, Preston International Achievement Award (sponsored by Cassons) • Group55, Chorley Large Business Award (sponsored by Forbes Solicitors) • CMAC Group, Accrington Legal Business Award (sponsored by Eventus Legal) • Farleys Solicitors, Blackburn Leisure and Tourism Business Award (sponsored by Birchall Foodservice) • The Fence Gate, Burnley Manufacturing Business Award (sponsored by Barclays) • AluFoldDirect, Blackburn Medium Business Award (sponsored by Bespoke Healthcare) • AluFoldDirect, Blackburn New Business Award (sponsored by Business Enterprise Trust) • S&H Group, Blackburn Not-for-profit Business Award (sponsored by Recycling Lives) • Pendleside Hospice, Burnley Property Business Award (sponsored by Harrison Drury) • UPS Building & Maintenance, Skelmersdale Skills Provider Award (sponsored by EPSL Educational Printing) • Myerscough College & University Centre, Bilsborrow, Preston Small Business Award (sponsored by Porsche Centre Bolton) • Gazegill Organics, Clitheroe Lancashire Business View Award • Barnfield Construction, Nelson