We are delighted to have Porsche Centre Bolton sponsoring the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Award at the Red Rose Awards 2021, the eleventh annual celebration of the Lancashire business community.
Porsche Centre Bolton opened in August 2006 and are celebrating 15 successful years in business as the North West’s consistently leading Porsche Centre.
Steve Webb, centre Principal at Porsche Centre Bolton discussed with us why they have sponsored the awards for the past four years.
RRA: How did Porsche Centre Bolton first get involved with the Red Rose Awards?
SW: I was invited to attend the Red Rose Awards ceremony at Blackpool Winter Gardens circa 6 years ago by Gary Clifton from NFU Mutual, it was then that I realised just how much opportunity there was in the Lancashire business community, and how pro-active Lancashire Business View were in the whole networking ethos. It also resonates when Richard Slater gets to his feet and encourages the buy it in Lancashire theme.
RRA: What changes have you seen in the Red Rose Awards over the years that you have been involved?
SW: I like the way in which the team try and spread the events throughout the county, they don’t stick to the same venues all the time, which in turn exposes us to different locations and venues, some of which we’ve used to do our own drive out events. They’ve also started to modify their networking events to be “Covid safe”, the example being the recent walk along the Tolkien Trail. Lots of the core things done in the Red Rose Awards are the same and they work, this is all about networking and ultimately celebrating success, which I wouldn’t want to change.
RRA: What is the most rewarding part of being a sponsor?
SW: It’s not just about the relationship we develop with the winners, it’s also about the relationship we develop with other businesses and judges in the process. We still have strong connections with people we met four years ago when we first became a category sponsor. Watching an individual nominate themselves and their business, then going through the judging process, can be quite nerve racking, and its massively rewarding to think we have helped them in some small way to promote and drive their business even further. There is a huge amount of satisfaction in being involved in that, I’d also go as far as to say, we also feel part of their success and take great pride in them winning. It’s also very enlightening to see the passion, enthusiasm and diversity of businesses on our doorstep.
RRA: How do you feel that the Red Rose Awards benefit Lancashire?
SW: To quote Richard again and his massive push for reciprocal business; “if you can buy it in Lancashire, buy it in Lancashire…”
The Awards themselves bring a huge focus on the business community and what each business can offer each other, as well as a platform to showcase what you’re all about as a business and the individuals within that business.
RRA: How do you feel that your involvement with the Red Rose Awards benefits Porsche Centre Bolton?
SW: It offers a more informal approach and exposure on a B2B level and develops relationships with other people/businesses outside of our own field. It widens the scope of networking and coverage of our business to others involved.
Since the awards were launched in 2011, it has steadily grown and become the centrepiece attraction for the business community.
Entries for the awards have now closed. 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.
For more details, visit www.redroseawards.co.uk
The headline sponsors for Red Rose Awards 2021 are Forbes Solicitors and Barclays.
The awards are also sponsored by Azets UK, Bigtank, Business Health Matters, Campbell & Rowley, Cube Thinking, Eventus Recruitment Group, Ewood Experience, Four Recruitment, Harrison Drury Solicitors, Marketing Lancashire, Matrix247, Mattioli Woods, Napthens Solicitors, Pendle Engineering, Peter Scott Printers, Pink Link, PM+M, Porsche Centre Bolton, Rowan Executive, Sales Geek, Seriun, SparesVault™ by Northern Industrial, Sundown Solutions, The Fun Experts, Two Zero, United Utilities and The University of Central Lancashire. The charity partner is Community Foundation for Lancashire.