Paul Dawson, the Managing Director of Burnley-based Anvic Developments, joined German-owned VEKA PLC, as the top two toasts of the Burnley Business Awards (30th June) after collecting prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement’ and ‘Outstanding Contribution’ awards respectively.
The glittering awards evening at the 500 year-old Towneley Hall in Burnley was full to capacity with 400 people from across business and media hoping to collect one of the prestigious awards.
The manufacturing sector came out strongest, taking almost two-thirds of all awards; not surprising given Burnley’s role as a global hub for manufacturing, aerospace and engineering industries. Aircelle Ltd, the town’s largest employer, was joint-winners of the Large Business of the Year award, with fellow manufacturers Cherrytree Bakery and Solarlec PV Solution Ltd, collecting the Medium Sized Business Award and Small Sized Business Award respectively. Aircelle Ltd also collected the Business Commitment to the Community award.
Matthew Plummer and Jon Barker of global manufacturing giant Unison Engine Components collected the Young Business Person of the Year award, whilst the Innovation Award went to Process Instruments (UK) Ltd whose products are sold across the globe.
What More (UK) Ltd, the UK’s largest manufacturer of plastic housewares, gardening and storage products, collected the Export Achievement award following rapid international trade expansion that now sees the company exporting to 33 countries around the world.
From the service sector side, Maysons Solicitors received one of the night’s loudest cheers for their New Start Business of the Year award, whilst Crow Wood Leisure collected the award for Environmental Sustainability.
The Usha Indian Restaurant proved to be a popular winner in the hotly contested Visitor Economy Award whilst housing giant Calico collected the Staff Training and Development award and was also joint-winner of the prestigious Large Business of the Year award.
Hosted by TV personality Paul Crone and organised by Burnley Council the event main event sponsor was Burnley Bondholders, a consortium of businesses who seek to promote the town as a place to live, work, visit and invest.
It was perhaps appropriate that two Burnley Bondholders collected the most prestigious awards – Paul Dawson of Anvic Developments and VEKA Plc.
Paul Dawson, the Managing Director of Anvic Developments, received the Longstanding Contribution to Burnley award for 25 years of innovation, entrepreneurialism and achievement. Anvic Developments were at the forefront of the ‘urban renaissance’ in the nineties redeveloping mill buildings in Burnley ahead of similar redevelopments in Manchester. The company now operates three buildings in Burnley – Lodge House, Northbridge House and New Hall House, and two buildings in Manchester – Piccadilly House and City View House totaling 150 000 square feet of office space.
VEKA Plc received the ‘outstanding contribution to Burnley’ award for a remarkable year in which the company has both celebrated its 25th year of operations in the town and completed the largest deal of its kind through the eight-figure acquisition of Midlands rival Bowater Building Products.
VEKA Plc has grown its Burnley-base from 30 employers to 160 employers in the last 25 years, have expanded their site from 30 000 to almost 400 000 square feet and are known as a ‘Burnley institution’ through their involvement in the town.
