Best of Lancashire business honoured at Red Rose Awards

By Tim Aldred

10 Mar 2023

Winners Desktop

More than 1,000 attended the Red Rose Awards at Winter Gardens Blackpool to celebrate and honour the achievements of the county’s business community.

Awards were handed out in 22 categories with some dedicated to sectors, others based on the size of the business and the remainder for special achievements such as customer service, transformation or commitment to skills.

The shortlisted companies represented a range of sizes, sectors and geography, from a local independent beauty products manufacturer launched during lockdown to multinational firms achieving sales growth across several continents.

Each winner was selected after three stages of judging by a panel of expert local business leaders culminating in an in-person judging event at Burnley Football Club. They will now join an exclusive club of winners and benefit from a special package including tailored mentoring and exclusive networking.

Two companies were victorious in two categories: Chiptech, which won the Scale Up and Small Business categories, and GA Pet Food Partners, which won the Export and Family Business awards.

Lancaster-based Chiptech supplies assistive technology products and software solutions to local authorities, housing, monitoring and insurance companies who in turn provide them to vulnerable people. In the last year, the company redeveloped its products to overcome problems with supply chains and communications networks, and quadrupled sales.

GA is a family-owned private label pet food manufacturer based in Chorley. Over the last year, it has invested £100m in a new ingredients kitchen, and increased its sales by 20 per cent - more than half of which was shipped overseas.

Granby Marketing Services, based in Blackburn, won the Lancashire Business View Award, the only category judged by the organising team .

Granby provides end-to-end fulfilment services to some of the best-known household brands and public sector organisations. The company has developed its own AI streamlining processes and introduced a range of workforce wellbeing measures. Last year, managing director Jo Kimber’s sold her shares to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) to give them greater control of the business.

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View and founder of the Red Rose Awards, said: “We have enjoyed another fantastic night of celebrating exciting, innovative and inspiring Lancashire-based businesses.
“There have been many unexpected economic and political challenges over the last year but each of the finalists - and especially the winners - have shown that there are still opportunities out there.

“These awards showcase the best of Lancashire’s resilience and I hope they inspire others to work hard, aim high and to share the story of their successes with the world.”

A full report with pictures will be included in the May/June edition of Lancashire Business View.

Full list of winners

Built Environment Award

HPA Architects, Lancaster

Commitment to Skills Award

WEC Group, Darwen

Customer Service Award

WCF Fuels North West, Carnforth

Design Award

EXP, Lancaster

Digital Award

Alcidion, Burnley

Employer of the Year Award

Tharstern, Colne

Environmental, Social and Governance Award

Leighton Hall, Carnforth

Export Award

GA Pet Food Partners, Chorley

Family Business Award

GA Pet Food Partners, Chorley

Health and Wellbeing Award

Delta Care, Preston

Large Business Award

Senator International, Accrington

Made in Lancashire Award

Addison Precision, Thornton-Cleveleys

Medium Business Award

CoolKit, Burnley

Micro Business Award

North Star Projects, Heysham

New Business Award

Upholstery2u, Nelson

Not-for-profit Award

The Boathouse Youth, Blackpool

Professional Services Award

Backhouse Jones, Clitheroe

Scale-up Award

Chiptech, Lancaster

Small Business Award

Chiptech, Lancaster

Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Award

Holmes Mill, Clitheroe

Transformation Award

LCM Environmental Services, Burnley

Lancashire Business View Award

Granby Marketing Services, Blackburn

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards University of Central Lancashire winners at Educate North Award Winners 2025

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards

04 Apr 2025

2

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors The Villa Levens and The VillaWrea Green (Image credit: The Villa Levens and The Villa Wrea Green)

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors

04 Apr 2025

3

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs Manufacturing

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs

03 Apr 2025

4

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

5

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Enhancing Your Workforce with CPD
LBV Hub Networking
08 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Enhancing Your Workforce with CPD

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

13:15 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin