Shortlists revealed for the 2014 BIBAs

The Be Inspired Business Awards (the BIBAs) today unveil the shortlists for the 17 prizes it will hand out at its annual prize-giving ceremony at the iconic Blackpool Tower in September.

It will put 196 applications from 119 businesses which were among the record number of entries it received before its judges when they meet for the first round of interviews later this month.

Ashleigh Dawson, senior business development manager at accountancy firm Grant Thornton which is sponsoring the Entrepreneur of the Year category, said the quality of firms shortlisted for the awards were evidence of the strength of Lancashire’s business community.

She said: “Grant Thornton is used to working with some of Lancashire’s leading businesses so we recognise the wealth of great firms which are in the county.

“The BIBAs are special because no firm progresses to the latter stages without being very special and this year is no exception.

“The quality and quantity of entries to the 17 prizes up for grabs this year has surpassed all previous years and there is no doubt the judges have a tough job on their hands picking a winner.”

She added her firm was backing the Entrepreneur of the Year category, one of two new prizes added in 2014, to “throw a spotlight on the crucial role entrepreneurs play in securing jobs and prosperity” within Lancashire.

The 17 judging panels will meet the shortlisted applicants at the offices of awards organisers, the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, in Blackpool from Monday, May 19.

Babs Murphy, chief executive of the Chamber, said: “We know the record number of entries we received for this year’s BIBAs have put everything into making their applications the best they can be.

“We know that our judges cannot afford to be anything other than completely prepared for what our applicants will throw at them, which is why we have left nothing to chance.

“I think our judges went into the training sessions realising the BIBAs are Lancashire’s leading business awards and came out realising exactly why they’re ‘the one they all want to win.’”

This is the full list of finalists competing for top awards in the 2014 BIBAs, to be presented at a major ceremony at Blackpool Tower in September.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Bleep UK PLC

Chemical Innovations

Direct365

Granby Marketing Services

I C G Brandbuilders

Inspired Energy

Lailas Fine foods

New Call Telecom

Story Homes

Suresite Group

The Stocks Hall Nursing & Care Group

White Moss Horticulture Ltd

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Ainscough Training Services Ltd

Bleep UK PLC

Chantelle Lighting

CM Oxendale

Connect 2 Cleanrooms Ltd

Direct365

Inteb Sustainablity

Lamps & Lighting Ltd

Lantai

Peter Jackson the Jeweller

Suresite Group

The REACH Centre

SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Assured Cleaning Services Ltd

Businesswise Solutions

Fairbanks Environmental Ltd

Fylde Executive Cars Ltd

Gconnect

Granby Marketing Services

I C G Brandbuilders

KTG Social Care

Pakawaste Engineering Services Ltd

Preston Bus

RKMS

Springhill Care

MICRO BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Colossal Training

Gconnect

Group55

Longthorne Gunmakers Ltd

Pennine Events Ltd

Principle Signs & Graphics Ltd

Silverwoods Waste Management Ltd

Talent Dynamics

The Ink Squid Limited

The Little Big Voice

Training Station

WJF Technical Support Limited

ENTREPENEUR OF THE YEAR:

Claire Fryer - The Mosaic Care Group

Claire Pickering - Lance Mason

Jane Peters - Nineteen Legal

Janet Thornton - Inspired Energy

Jim Elliot - Hangerworld

Joe Govier - Connect 2 Cleanrooms Ltd

Julian Silverwood - Silverwoods Waste Management

Nigel Eastwood - New Call Telecom

Simon Booth - Asute Motoring

Steve Brennan - Bespoke Internet Ltd

Steve Pearson - Remvox Ltd

Zera Rentulla - Lailas Fine Foods

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

All You Knead

Astute Motoring

Cakes By Ruth

Choc Amor

Colossal Training

Contrado Digital Ltd

forward2me Limited

Little G’s Pre-School Limited

Love My Limited

Pawberry Dog Wear

Remvox LTD

The Networking People

EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE:

Ainscough Training Services Ltd

CER Associates Ltd

Chestnut Business Solutions

Community Life Choices

Hesketh Press

New Call Telecom

NuBlue

Parbold Equestrian Centre

Paul Turner Displays

Springhill Care

The Marriot Hotel

Via Partnership

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR:

Ascentis

Clayton Recruitment Group

Connect 2 Cleanrooms Ltd

Connect Childcare

Fairbanks Environmental Ltd

Inspired Energy

KTG Social Care

Magma Digital Ltd

Springhill Care

Taylor Patterson Group

The Stocks Hall Nursing & Care Group

True Bearings

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR:

Amanda Jackson - Tigerfish PR

Claire Fryer - The Mosaic Care Group

Janet Thornton - Inspired Energy

Jo Varey - Granby Marketing Services

Karen O’Donoghue - Via Partnership

Kerian Barns - Starboard Hotels

Michelle Cuffe & Felicity Lacey - Excel Fostering

Nicolla Bishop - Home Angels Chorley

Rose Watkins - Centaur Training Services (North West) Ltd

Saira Hussain - Hussain Architectural Design Ltd

Sarah Gronback - Little G’s Pre-School Limited

Sarah Southworth - Specialised Cleaning Services (North West) Ltd

EXPORTER OF THE YEAR:

Chelsom Limited

Chemical Innovations

First Trace Heating Direct Ltd

Heskins

Pakawaste Ltd

Scorpion Automotive

Sovereign Secure Limited

Talent Dynamics

Tangerine Holdings

Tetrad

TISS Ltd

Trelleborg Offshore UK Ltd

E BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Connect 2 Cleanrooms Ltd

Contrado Digital

Direct365

Hanger World

Kidderoo

Suntana Spray Tan Ltd

Shu-too

Talent Dynamics

The Ink Squid

Transpares

Ula - la - beauty

WebsiteUK Ltd

CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Bespoke Internet Ltd

Chelsom Lighting

Contrado Digital

I C G Brandbuilders

Jelly Media

Kidderoo

Knight Time Creations

Marmalade Toast

SPS EU Ltd

Stone Create

WebsiteUK Ltd

YouMeSign

MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

A M Support Services

Ascentis

Blackpool Zoo

Crow Wood Leisure

Elitetele.com

Granby Marketing Services

Lance Mason

Promenade Hotels Ltd

Scorpion Automotive

SPS EU Ltd

Tangerine Holdings Limited

Via Partnership

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Cassidy + Ashton

CM Oxendale

Conlon Construction

Homestead CSL

Hussain Architectural Design Ltd

Jones Melling Ltd

Pinington Ltd

Story Homes

LEISURE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Blackpool Zoo

Crow Wood Leisure Ltd

Fylde Executive Cars Ltd

Longthorne Gunmakers Ltd

Parbold equestrian centre

Promenade Hotels Ltd

Starboard Hotels Group

The Wellbeing Farm

Winter Gardens Blackpool

Wyrebank

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR:

Bleep UK PLC

Chemical Innovations

Chelsom

Lailas Fine foods

Longthorne Gunmakers Ltd

Pakawaste Ltd

Remvox LTD

Scorpion Automotive

SPS EU Ltd

Tangerine Holdings Limited

Tetrad

White Moss Horticulture

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Astute Wealth Management

Cassidy + Ashton

CER Associates Ltd

Chestnut Business Solutions

Clayton Recruitment

Damson UK Ltd

Jones Melling Ltd

Lance Mason

Magma Digital Ltd

Taylor Patterson Group

True Bearings