'˜Put your heart into top awards'

Norman Tenray, the owner of OBAS UK, the Longridge-based construction services group, is one of the 70 business leaders which will pick the winners for this year’s Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs.

He said he was looking for businesses to put across the drivers behind their success in “a concise, interesting and structured way.”

The businessman picked up the awards’ Business Person of the Year prize in 2009 and saw his firm named Business of the Year the following year.

Mr Tenray said: “I review each application at least four times prior to the interviews to ensure I know the business inside out.

“Applicants put a huge amount of time and effort in to writing applications and, as judges, we must match that effort to ensure we select the right winners. An application which clearly sets out the company’s achievements and future vision which is supported evidence of their achievements is exactly what I am looking for.”

He recalled an application which “achieved amazing things against incredible odds” as the most impressive application he had seen in his five years as a BIBAs judge, it brought to life the tenacity, commitment, blood, sweat and tears that had been invested in the business and its workforce.

The BIBAs is hosting its free boot camp workshop on Friday, March 4, which will offer potential applicants advice on how to prepare their entries for the awards 18 prize categories.

It will see judges and former winners give the benefit of their experience during a session at the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s office in Blackpool.