Red Rose Awards 2015 is launched

Businesses across Lancashire are being called on to enter the Red Rose Awards, which will crown the best of the best of the county’s firms.

Last year’s event, which was organised by Lancashire Business View magazine, attracted an audience of more than 1,100 for the celebration at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens – setting a record for the biggest indoor dinner ever held in the county.

The 2015 Awards will once again feature joint headline sponsorship, with Forbes Solicitors reaffirming its support for the fifth year running, and Barclays joining for their second year.

At the launch event, held at Hoghton Tower, Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View said: “First and foremost the Red Rose Awards are about giving Lancashire business the opportunity to show how great it is; how deep its commercial excellence runs.

“We are giving business the chance to shout about what they do and why they are the best at it – and we hope they’ll grasp that opportunity with both hands by entering. There is at least one category applicable to every business in the county.

“We know the business community love participating in the awards – if you experience the Red Rose Awards either by entering, judging, sponsoring or attending on the night, we ask that you encourage your clients, suppliers and associates to enter!

“We are also proud to have our fantastic headline sponsors, Forbes Solicitors and Barclays, on board for 2015. These are blue-chip brands and their calibre says much about the esteem in which these awards are held.”

Gavin Wright, CEO at Forbes, said: “The Red Rose Awards continues to be the premier business event in the county and the first date to put in your diary! It’s a privilege to be able to support an event which showcases the successes of so many businesses in Lancashire.

“The quality and number of entries in the 2014 Red Rose Awards will take some beating but I would encourage any business who has something to shout about to enter.”

John Stanworth, corporate director at Barclays in Lancashire, commented: “Barclays was delighted to become a headline sponsor of the Red Rose Awards in 2014.

“This incredible event showcased some of the best businesses across the county and Barclays is proud to have a relationship with many of the companies that entered.

“The awards recognise firms and individuals that are achieving their aspirations and goals and that are contributing to the overall success of the region.

“Barclays is looking forward to continuing its support for the 2015 awards and we encourage more businesses to enter.”

Other sponsors confirmed to date include 2BR/The Bee, Ascentis, BAE Systems, Baker Tilly, Bizspace, Boost Business Lancashire, Businesswise Solutions, Hyndburn Business and Enterprise Trust, Cassons, Federation of Small Businesses, Laura Hartley Recruitment, Leonard Dews, Napthens Solictors, Northcote at the Rovers, Peter Scott Printers, Preston’s College, Slatescape, UK Trade and Investment and the WEC Group.

To take part in the Red Rose Awards, visit www.redroseawards.co.uk. The closing date is January 16 2015 and the celebration will take place, once again, at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on March 12.