The North West Family Business Awards are back in Manchester under the wings of Concorde for 2023, and applications and nominations are now open! In its third year, the awards are expected to be bigger and brighter than ever before, shining a spotlight on family firms across the region.  

The awards recognise the achievements and successes of family businesses based in Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. This year’s ceremony will take place on Friday 19^th May 2023 at the Concorde Conference Centre at Manchester Airport.

Co-Founder, Sue Howorth explains the origins of the awards, saying “Since founding our community of family businesses in 2014, the appetite for bringing family businesses together to celebrate the sector has never been greater.

Our awards are very different to other business awards because of our focus on the family elements. Our North West Family Business Awards really are an inspiring, inclusive, and uplifting celebratory experience to be a part of. Our categories are designed to appeal to family businesses of all shapes and sizes, from across all industries”.

In total there are fifteen categories to choose from, including a new category for this year that recognises Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Applicants have until 24th February 2023 to enter their family business within one or more categories. Should you know a family business that deserves recognition, you can also nominate them via the website.

Finalists will be chosen through a rigorous two-stage judging process ahead of the ceremony, with the winners eventually crowned on the night. Presenting the awards will be food writer and broadcaster, Nigel Barden along with Co-Directors Sue Howorth and Dave Clarkson. As a proud Northerner, Nigel is a huge champion of the family business sector in the North West and has worked closely with The Family Business Community for a number of years.

Dave Clarkson of The Family Business Community added, “We are not a large events company, but a family business-focused organisation who are passionate about what we do. Each of our Family Business Awards is unique and we work hard to ensure that our worthy finalists get to be part of something memorable. The Concorde Hangar is a brilliant venue and it will really set the scene for our spectacular awards night in May.

As well as being a great way for companies and those working within them to shine, our Awards are also an opportunity to become more immersed within the safe and supportive peer to peer environment that is The Family Business Community.”

The North West Family Business Awards offer a number of sponsorship opportunities for those that support the sector. Information on the various packages is available via the website

For more information about the North West Family Business Awards, to nominate a family business or to apply, visit www.northwestfamilybusinessawards.co.uk