Winners Announced – E3 Business Awards 2015
The finals of the 2015 E3 Business Awards took place last night (Thursday 11th June) at the Macron Stadium in Bolton. Around 500 representatives of North West businesses, universities and support organisations attended to celebrate the achievements of the finalists and the award winners.
There were sixteen award categories in all, including four new ones that were added this year. Having considered the number and the high standard of entries in 2014, the hosts, 1 Events Media, introduced the additional categories in order to better reflect the wealth of talent that exists within the region. The record number of nominations for 2015 suggests that this was a welcome decision.
This year’s nominations were judged by an independent panel of entrepreneurs, academics and business experts. The shortlist was selected on the basis of written submissions and the finalists were subsequently interviewed by the judging panel.
The winners were:
New Business Start-Up of the Year: Winner: Expert Security UK (Bury)
Award partner: University of Bolton
Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Winner: Our Local Heroes Foundation (Preston)
Award partner: The Chartered Institute of Marketing
Social Enterprise of the Year: Winner: Abu Hanifah Foundation (Blackburn)
Award partner: The Best of Bolton
Skills, Education and Training Award: Winner: JRC Roofing Distributors (Burnley)
Award partner: First Class Learning
Employer of the Year: Winner: Claim Eazy (Altrincham)
Award partner: Preston’s College
Online Business of the Year: Winner: Little Wings Factory (Stockport)
Award partner: Ice Box Designs
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Winner: Justin Dooley (Caffe Cream of New Brighton, Wirral)
Award partner: Manchester Metropolitan University
Outstanding Woman in Business Award: Winner: Julie Bowmer (Likahea Holdings, Rochdale)
Award partner: Merseyside Women of the Year
Green Business of the Year Winner: Cool Canvas (Bolton)
Award partner: My Lahore
Family Business of the Year Winner: Arthur Padgett (Nelson)
Award partner: Leisure Guard Security
Professional Firm of the Year Winner: AMS Accountants group (Manchester)
Award partner: Bridging Finance
Customer Service Award: Winner: Crompton Way Motors (Bolton)
Award partner: Tile Mart
Manufacturing Business of the Year: Winner: Assembly Solutions (Bolton)
Award partner: Simply Doughnuts
High Growth Business of the Year: Winner: Lantei Compliance Services (Preston)
Award partner: Business Growth Service
International Business of the Year: Winner: Powder Systems Limited (Liverpool)
Award partner: UK Trade & Investment
Business of the Year: Winner: Adaptive Comms (Southport)
Award partner: 1 Business Enterprise
E3Special Achievement Award: Winner: Pendle Action for the Community (Nelson)
Award partner: 1 Events Media
Speaking on behalf of 1 Events Media, Managing Director Mubarak Chati said: “The E3 Awards are now in their third year and they’ve grown steadily in both stature and recognition. This year, the number of entrants has risen sharply. Even more striking has been the high standard of the entries. Our 15-strong judging panel interviewed businesses that have not only been achieving exceptional growth, they’ve also been displaying innovation, shrewd management and commendable social responsibility. The judges have also gained a clearer understanding of how local charities and social enterprises are making a real difference to communities, local environments and the quality of people’s lives.
“Right across the board, in fact, we’ve seen organisations achieving exceptional things. Our region is clearly home to an immense amount of talent and our judges said they were enormously impressed with the standard of the entries. I’m delighted to see such vision and energy in the North West and delighted, too, that the E3 Awards are helping to draw attention to the excellent work that is being done here.”
The evening’s final award announcement was the Special Achievement Award, which this year went to the Nelson-based charity, Pendle Action for the Community.
The Awards concluded with a vote of thanks from Mubarak Chati. He took the opportunity to announce the forthcoming launch of the E3 Business Expo, a day-long trade exhibition and networking event for North West companies, social enterprises and entrepreneurs. The inaugural event will take place on 3rd March 2016 and will also be held at the Macron Stadium in Bolton. With a strong business-to-business focus, it will feature 100 exhibition stands as well as a busy programme of seminars.
Next year’s E3 Business Awards will take place a few months later, on Friday 3rd June 2016.