The wait is over, as the finalists of the North West Family Business Awards have been named.

Applications had been sent in from all corners of the North West region for the forthcoming Awards on Friday 9th May. The eagerly anticipated list of finalists from all the entries we received features over 60 outstanding businesses and individuals.

The North West Family Business Awards, organised by The Family Business Community, champions family firms from across the region, recognising their achievements and celebrating their successes.

Sue Howorth, Co-Founder of The Family Business Community said, “With these awards now established in the regions calendar we are seeing year on year growth with number of entries and strong contenders across all categories, and we cannot wait to shine a light on some of the fantastic businesses and their teams in this year’s awards.”

With over 5 million family-owned businesses generating nearly half of the private sector’s annual turnover, family firms are the backbone of the UK economy, driving growth, innovation, and long-term prosperity.

Dave Clarkson, Co-Founder of The Family Business Community said, “Family businesses come in all shapes and sizes, and we feel it is vitally important to represent them as a sector in their own right. From micro businesses to multi-generational companies that have been operating for hundreds of years, we’re looking forward to a real celebration at this year’s awards.”

Jonathan Robb, Managing Director at Hawkhead Relish, is part of the main judging panel, and Hawkshead Relish are also sponsoring the wonderful host for the awards evening, renowned food and drink broadcaster and writer Nigel Barden. Jonathan says: “As a small family business established over 25 years, Hawkshead Relish have been delighted to have been sponsors of the North West Family Business Awards for the last few years. Having also been a judge of the awards for the last 3 years, it’s been a fascinating insight into so many North West Family Businesses. We can’t wait to celebrate with them all at the awards in May.”

The complex task of reviewing and shortlisting this year’s entries took place last week, where the judges met to score and discuss, before choosing the finalists. Some tough decisions had to be made by the 23 judges, as standards were high and over 100 entries were received.

The awards feature sixteen sector-specific categories, along with special recognitions for Leadership Excellence. In addition is the Employee of the Year and the People’s Choice Awards. Winners in these two categories are determined through a combination of public votes and a judges visit scores, ensuring a fair and inclusive selection process.

The shortlisted finalists for the North West Family Business Awards 2025 are as follows:

Agri Business
Cliftons Farm, Goosnargh, Lancs
Enviro Systems UK Ltd, Preston, Lancs
Huntapac, Ormskirk, Lancs

Construction, Property Maintenance & Engineering
HJK Construction, Blackburn, Lancs
Dasco Construction, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Property Pac Ltd, Chester, Cheshire

Business Services Excellence – Large Business
Atherton House Nursery Group, Blundellsands, Merseyside
Nutree Life, Ormskirk, Lancs
Fresh Start Waste Services, Manchester

Business Services Excellence – Small Business
The Plastic Bottles Company, Ulverston, Cumbria
Tech 4 Office Equipment Ltd, Carlisle, Cumbria
Atlas Environmental Services, Burnley, Lancs

Manufacturing Excellence
Openhouse Products Ltd, Birkenhead, Merseyside
Nutree Life, Ormskirk, Lancs
Enviro Systems UK Ltd, Preston, Lancs
A. Algeos Ltd, Liverpool
Bluebell Fitted Furniture, Sale, Cheshire
Clark Door, Carlisle, Cumbria

Transport, Haulage & Logistics
Powerlift Materials Handling Ltd, Runcorn, Cheshire
Farralls Transports Ltd, Deeside, Cheshire
Archway Travel, Fleetwood, Lancs

Wholesalers
Widdop & Co, Oldham, Lancs
The Plastic Bottles Company, Ulverston, Cumbria
Penningtons Tea & Coffee Ltd, Kendal, Cumbria
Mini and Mighty Ltd, Haslingden, Lancs

Retailers & E-Tailers – Large Business
A. Algeos Ltd, Liverpool
Festive Lights Ltd, Chorley, Lancs
Arighi Bianchi, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Retailers & E-Tailers – Small Business
Old Courthouse Gallery, Ambleside, Cumbria
Prestige Beds, Blackburn, Lancs
Newman and Bright, Manchester
Openhouse Products Ltd, Birkenhead, Merseyside

Food & Drink Producers
Coffee Block, Stockport, Cheshire
Penningtons Tea & Coffee Ltd, Kendal, Cumbria
Morecambe Bay Chowder Company, Morecambe Bay, Lancs
Lakes Sandwiches, Kendal, Cumbria

Food & Drink Establishments
Coffee Block, Stockport, Cheshire
The Britannia Tap & Grill, Oswaldthistle, Lancs
Pear Hospitality Group, Cheshire
Marina View Café, Maryport, Cumbria
Coffee King, Runcorn, Cheshire

Leisure & Tourism
English Lakes Hotels, Windermere, Cumbria
Dickinson Place, Maryport, Cumbria
The Quiet Site, Penrith, Cumbria

Employee of the Year
Olivia Chadwick – Unity Lives, Liverpool
Rob Jones – Openhouse Products Ltd, Birkenhead, Merseyside
Charlotte Rothwell – Dasco Construction, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Alison Fitzgerald – A. Algeos Ltd, Liverpool
Sheila Kelly – To Pie for, Warrington, Cheshire

Rising Stars
Unity Lives Ltd, Liverpool
Great British Festivals – The Brit Fest, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire
Sabden Smash, Clitheroe, Lancs
Neuro Spark Business Solutions Ltd, Burnley, Lancs
Marina View Café, Maryport, Cumbria

People’s Choice – Community Champion
Training Works, Blackpool, Lancs
Marina View Café, Maryport, Cumbria
Lakes Sandwiches, Kendal, Cumbria
CoolCrafting, Kendal, Cumbria
Bootleggers Kendal, Cumbria
Morecambe Bay Wills & Estates Ltd, Lancaster, Lancs
Smartxpress Body & Paint Ltd, Blackpool, Lancs
Vanliners, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Kendal Holiday Cottages, Kendal, Cumbria
Clair de Lune, Manchester
To Pie For, Warrington, Cheshire
Brian Austwick Photography, Carlisle, Cumbria

The Green Award – Large Business
The Regatta Group, Manchester
Huntapac, Ormskirk, Lancs
English Lakes Hotels, Windermere, Cumbria

The Green Award – Small Business
Penningtons Tea & Coffee Ltd, Kendal, Cumbria
Openhouse Products Ltd, Birkenhead, Merseyside
Enviro Systems UK Ltd, Preston, Lancs
The Quiet Site, Penrith, Cumbria

Purpose Driven Award – Large Business
Stollers, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
Dunsters Farm, Bury, Lancs
Dasco Construction, Wigan, Greater Manchester

Purpose Driven Award – Small Business
Star Kidz Entertainment Ltd, Southport, Merseyside
Lakes Sandwiches, Kendal, Cumbria
Morecambe Bay Wills & Estates Ltd, Lancaster, Lancs
Neuro Spark Business Solutions Ltd, Burnley, Lancs

Digital Transformation
Unity Lives Ltd, Liverpool
Think Beyond, Knutsford, Cheshire
RAF Engineering, Workington, Cumbria
Openhouse Products Ltd, Birkenhead, Merseyside
Lakes Sandwiches, Kendal, Cumbria
CanDo Payments, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Leadership Excellence Award
Adele Hollywood – Unity Lives Ltd, Liverpool
Helen Vanroose-Brydon – The Plastic Bottles Company, Ulverston, Cumbria
Steven Routledge – Powerlift Materials Handling Ltd, Runcorn, Cheshire
Mel Walmsley – Lakes Sandwiches, Kendal, Cumbria
Samantha Proctor – Openhouse Products Ltd, Birkenhead, Merseyside
Nicola McGrath – Fresh Start Waste Services, Manchester
Hannah Barlow & Tom Mathew – Dunsters Farm, Bury, Lancs
Scott Rothwell – Dasco Construction, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Jacob Sidorewic – Atlas Environmental Services, Burnley, Lancs
Max Sheridan – A. Algeos Ltd, Liverpool
Damian Symonds – 1st Look Fire & Security Systems Ltd, Colne, Lancs

The finalists are now to receive visits from judges chosen to represent each region before the final decisions are made, with the winners announced at a glittering ceremony on Friday 9th May at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, providing an elegant backdrop for an evening of celebration and recognition.

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