The finalists for the inaugural North West Family Business Awards have been selected by our panel of judges and were announced on 24 January. There was stiff competition this year with 192 entries in total from family firms across the region.

Fourteen business leaders from all sectors across the North West came together at Lancaster University to go through the mountain of entries for the North West Family Business Awards, open to businesses in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.

Founder and co-director of the North West Family Business Awards, Sue Howorth said: “We have had a fantastic response to our new awards, receiving 192 entries. The standard of applications has been incredible in all categories. It just goes to show how amazing the North West’s family businesses are.”

Co-director, Dave Clarkson said: “A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out an application form and enter. Our judges had their work cut out to select the finalists, as the standard is incredibly high. However, after much discussion and deliberation, our finalists have been chosen – including the People’s Choice for each region and employee of the year.”

For these two categories, the public can vote for their favourite business from February 17^th until the day before the awards ceremony on March 6^th. Voting will be via the North West Family Business Award website.

Jacqui Jackson from Thomas Jardine & Co and 2020 North West Awards Chair of Judges said: “The number and quality of applications from across the North West has been outstanding, the businesses are clearly proud to be family businesses and the detail in many of the entries has demonstrated that they are very progressive and innovative”.

The finalists now go through to the North West Awards ceremony on March 6th. This first-class event will be held under the wings of Concorde in the purpose-built hangar and events centre at Manchester Airport with host, food writer, and presenter Nigel Barden.

You don’t need to be a finalist to join the celebrations as tickets for the prestigious awards ceremony are now on sale. As well as meeting the most exceptional family businesses from across the North West, you’ll enjoy a three-course meal and entertainment.

Winners of the North West Family Business Awards will go forward to represent the region in the National Awards.

The new North West Family Business Awards celebrates the achievements of family businesses and has evolved from the successful Cumbrian awards which were co-founded in 2017.

Shortlisted finalists for The North West Family Business Awards 2020 are:

Business & Community:

Stan Sherlock Associates

Direct2Florist

Bowness Post Office

Choose Occupational Health

Property & Construction

George Cox & Sons Ltd

First Trace Heating Direct Ltd

Story Decorating Group Ltd

Emerging Family Business

The Milking Parlour

Herdwork  Ltd

Colman & Colman

Food and Drink Establishments

Atkinsons Coffee Roasters – J. Atkinsons & Co. (Lancaster) Ltd.

Low Sizergh Barn

Higginsons Limited

Ciel Hotels Ltd T/A Askham Hall, The Queen’s Head Askham & The George and Dragon Clifton

Food and Drink Producers

Butlers farmhouse Cheese

Cheshire Farm Chips

Manchester Gin

Wholesalers

Dunsters Farm Ltd

Abbey England

Penningtons Tea & Coffee Ltd

Retailers

Bents Garden Centre Ltd

Atkinsons Coffee Roasters – J. Atkinsons & Co. (Lancaster) Ltd

Bluebell Fitted Furniture

Arragons Cycles

Bath House

Large Manufacturing & Engineering

Tibard Group Ltd

George Cox & Sons Ltd

Glossop Cartons

Small Manufacturing & Engineering

Hydraulics Online Ltd

First Trace Heating Direct Ltd

Mantle Packaging Machinery Ltd

Abbey England Ltd

JJ Smith & Co (Woodworking Machinery) Ltd

Transport & Logistics

Edge Transport

Spencer Graham Coaches Ltd

Leisure & Tourism

Partingtons Holiday Centres

Emm Bee Motorhomes

Upfront Gallery

Ciel Hotels Ltd T/A Askham Hall, The Queen’s Head Askham & The George and Dragon Clifton

Science & Technology

Kendal Nutricare

Nisyst

Earth Environmental & Geo technical Ltd

Non-Family Leader

To be announced on the night.

People’s Choice:

Cumbria:

Land of Sky & Media

Upfront Gallery

The Plough Inn

The Brown Horse Inn

MacArthur Recruitment Ltd

Choose Occupational Health

Star of Siam Cumbria Ltd

Ginger Bakers

Penningtons

Kendal Hostel

San Pietro Ltd

Detail Retail

Webbs of Kendal Kitchen designs

Arragons Cycles

Absoluxe Suites

Lakeland Artisan

Westmorland Homecare

Lancashire:

Feathers & Springs

Pendle Doors Ltd

New Brooms

Brades Farm Dairy Ltd

Blinds & Curtains by Nicola Jane Company

Milestone Wines Ltd

Lakeland Lodges

Wild Peas Camping

Plumbs

Cheshire:

Compassionate Care Ltd

Mum to the Power of two

Bluebell Fitted Furniture

Cheshire Farm House Chips

Merseyside:

Port Sunlight Garden Centre & Cafe

JJ Smith & Co

Central Group Ltd

Greater Manchester:

Ligero Design Ltd

Manchester Gin

Emm Bee Motor Homes

John Lord Specialist Flooring

Direct 2 Florist

Employee of the Year

Kendal Nutricare – Will McMahon

Sally’s Cottages – Becca Laff

The Black Bull – Laura Kitchen

Dunsters Farm Ltd – Tom Curtin

Higginsons – Mark Porter

Butlers Farmhouse Cheese – Lee Sanderson

Arragons Cycles – Ben Taylor

Herdwork – Samuel Morrison

Brades Dairy Farm  – Kim Howard

Bluebell Fitted Furniture – Stephen Capel

Irving Coaches – Kimble Cartner

Stan Sherlock Associates – Sandra Sproat

Tickets for The North West Family Business Awards celebration are available via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/book/event?embed&eid=9515 

You can follow the awards on social media with the hashtags #NWFBA2020 and #WeAreNorthWest.

For more information about the North West Family Business Awards visit: www.northwestfamilybusinessawards.co.uk