The countdown is on to the 2018 Red Rose Awards – Lancashire’s most anticipated and successful celebration of the county’s business excellence.
The national award-winning awards will highlight the success of businesses across 26 categories and the call is now on for entries.
The winners will be revealed at a glittering celebration at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens in March, one of the most highly-anticipated evenings of the year. This year more than 1,100 attended the event.
The 2018 awards, organised by Lancashire Business View magazine, were launched at an event at Holmes Mill in Clitheroe. And it was revealed that some of the biggest business names in the county are once again giving supporting and backing Red Rose Awards.
The 2018 Awards will once again feature joint headline sponsorship, with Forbes Solicitors reaffirming its support since the awards were launched in 2011, and Barclays joining for a fifth consecutive year.
At the launch event, sponsored by Holmes Mill Clitheroe, Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View, said the aim again was to celebrate excellence.
The theme of the 2018 awards is “big bang” and Richard told the audience: “We’re going to make a big bang and tell the world about Lancashire.”
He added: “We are giving businesses the opportunity to shout about the great things they do and with at least one category applicable to every business in the county we hope they’ll grasp this opportunity to promote their success by entering.
“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 get involved and enter too!
“We are also proud to once more have our fantastic headline sponsors, Forbes Solicitors and Barclays, on board again for 2018 and also look forward to working with UCLan, our judging partner for the third year.”
Emma Swan at Forbes Solicitors, said: “Taking part in the judging of the awards is an opportunity to see the breadth of talent and entrepreneurship we have got across Lancashire. It is just mind-blowing.”
We’ve supported the Red Rose Awards since it launched in 2011 and are honoured to do so once again in 2018. The awards are a showcase of success for so many Lancashire businesses and the highlight of the calendar.
“We encourage businesses that have something to shout about to get their entries in and look forward to meeting these businesses throughout the judging process.”
John Stanworth, director of business and corporate at Barclays in Lancashire, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our partnership with the Red Rose Awards for a fourth year.
“The awards recognise businesses that are achieving growth and contributing to the overall success of the region, something Barclays is incredibly supportive of.
“We are looking forward to continuing our support for the 2018 awards and would encourage more growing businesses to enter and reap the rewards.”
Other sponsors confirmed to date include 3ManFactory, Bespoke | Digital Agency, Bespoke Health Care, BGF Group, Bizspace, Blackpool & Fylde College, Business Enterprise Trust, Cash for Kids, Cassons, Global, James Places, Leonard Dews, LH Recruitment, Marketing Lancashire, Mattioli Woods, Mayes Accountants, Mercia Fund Managers, Napthens, Northcote at the Rovers, NWEEG, Peter Scott Printers, Porsche Centre Bolton, Rosebud, RSM, Slater + Gordon, Stonehouse Logic, Sunshine Events, Tailor Made, VEKA, Visit Blackpool, WEC and With a Twist.
The closing date for entries is Friday 12 January 2018 and the celebration will take place, once again, at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on Thursday 8 March 2018.