A prize package consisting of support from the Lancashire experts making up the awards sponsors has been compiled to give winners access to exclusive services worth thousands of pounds that will help them work on and improve a variety of aspects of their organisations.
The experts available through the prize package span specialists such as legal, financial, recruitment, growth support and training.
Preston-based growth experts Cube Thinking is backing the Resilience Award and has added its specialist coaching services, worth £1,500 each, to the prize package for every category winner.
The Resilience Award, a new addition for 2021, will be bestowed upon the company which has most effectively dealt with the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. They, along with winners of each category, will be granted access to business health check and roadmap services designed to ignite rapid and sustainable growth.
The idea began at last year’s awards ceremony when Cube Thinking established a free surgery to the Tickled Trout in Preston the day after the 2020 Red Rose Awards. A week later, a war bunker had been established to help Samlesbury Hotel navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, and soon the thinking has spurred on the creation of the #askforhelp campaign delivered by Boost Lancashire.
John Woodruff and Jason Kingston, directors of Cube Thinking, said: “The Resilience prize is for the Lancashire business that has looked positively into the future at a time when uncertainty stopped many in their tracks – it may have been an amended product or service offer, or the dogged determination and leadership mindset evidenced that made the business thrive. We are looking for the story that best captures how adversity was overcome.
“We are offering our prize as a commitment to the ongoing economic growth of Lancashire, and to signal our intent to continue to do the right thing for businesses in the county. We believe in the spirit of great businesses, great staff and great leaders. Lancashire is best in class for us!”
Stephen Bolton, commercial director of Lancashire Business View which hosts the awards, said: “The main goal of the Red Rose Awards is to celebrate the best of Lancashire in a way that brings everybody together and gets everybody talking.
“The award winners are the best of the best in the county and the sponsors are some of the leading experts in their fields, by starting conversations between them all we have the potential to create some very exciting collaborations.”
Businesses interested in entering the awards have until August 20 to submit their entry forms. The finalists will be announced on September 10, and they will then be given the opportunity to put their best case to the judges on September 22 and 23.