Member Article

Lancashire businesses to be celebrated at BIBAs

Lancashire’s ‘Be Inspired Business Awards’ (BIBAs) are set to celebrate the region’s business community in what they have called their most ambitious event yet.

Incorporated with the Preston Guild Business Ball, the BIBAs will open Guild Week on Friday 31st August to showcase business talent in Lancashire.

Some of the categories include Small Business of the Year, Change for Growth, Exporter of the Year and Green Business of the Year, as well as celebrating new talent through New Business of the Year.

Finalists include companies across a variety of sectors, such as website designers Fat Media, skills and employment social enterprise Via Partnership, cheese makers Singleton’s Dairies, and hotelier Holiday Inn, as well as newcomers Pureety Gourmet Flavours, who produce sauces and food seasonings.

Multinational companies and SMEs have been nominated for 16 categories and is supported by North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

Chief executive of North and Western Lancashire said: “The BIBAs rewards excellence, innovation and success.

“Uniquely open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector – public or private, the BIBAs allows the best businesses to showcase their achievements and benchmark their successes.”

“The past twelve months have presented many challenges for businesses, yet the finalists of the BIBAs have demonstrated that these challenges are surmountable for our local business community. “

The awards have just under 20 sponsors including Virgin Trains, Lancashire LEP and UKTI.

Sponsor of Employer of the Year, Principal and Chief Executive of Preston College, Lis Smith said: “We recognise that people are the bedrock of any business and we must ensure that they have the necessary skills required for the future.

“Investing in training and development can only help to realise the full potential of our employees, this benefits both our business and the skills base within Lancashire”.

The businesses up for awards have been judged by an independent panel and interviewed before the awards ceremony which hopes to put a spotlight on the talent of Lancashire businesses.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .