Burnley’s prestigious sponsorship funded Business Awards ceremony is organised by Burnley Council to reward and celebrate the entrepreneurship and achievements of our local businesses. The ceremony will take place on the 30th June 2022 at Towneley Hall.

The Awards
Small Business Awards
Two Small Business awards are open to small businesses employing up to 19 and over 20-49 employees. The judges will be looking to hear about the company and its main activities, business performance, and what makes them a success. Innovation, great marketing, and potential for future growth are all factors which will be required by the judges. They will be looking for all round excellence in business: commercial success, growth and achievement, innovation, creativity, staff training and development. Sponsored by Paradigm Precision.
Medium Business of the Year Award
This award is open to medium sized businesses (employing between 50 and 250 employees) demonstrating all-round excellence in business, evidence of commercial success, growth, achievement, innovation, creativity, staff development and training, and green initiatives. Sponsored by Crow Wood.
Large Business of the Year Award
The Large Business award is for those companies with more than 250 employees. The judges will be looking to hear how large businesses have consolidated their growth and how they still keep employees and clients and the heart of what they do.
This will include staff training and development, innovation in partnerships, commercial success, key achievements and green initiatives.
Sponsored by Charter Walk Shopping Centre.
International Trade of the Year
Are your business horizons wider than the UK market? This award will recognise growth in international trade. Your entry should demonstrate a detailed understanding of the target market(s). Judges will be looking for evidence based on the following criteria:
- Evidence of versatility, imagination and persistence in exploiting target markets overseas
- Tactical ability in overcoming obstacles such as bureaucracy and exchange rates
- Evidence of positive sales and market share performance
- Open to businesses that are trading internationally – flying the flag for Burnley overseas. Sponsored by +24
Manufacturing Excellence Award
This award is specifically designed to recognise excellence and best practice in Burnley’s strong manufacturing sector – not only in terms of internal operations but also in terms of processes that involve customers and suppliers.
The judges will be looking for evidence based on the following criteria:
- Sales performance and growth prospects
- Product development, manufacturing innovation and the efficient use of technology
- Quality standards and monitoring
- Investment in people and equipment
- Environmental awareness
Sponsored by Burnley College
The Innovation Award
This award will acknowledge successful innovation within a business. This may be demonstrated in innovative products, services, processes, design, workforce development or technology. For the 2022 awards, the Digital Impact Award will be incorporated into the Innovation Award.
Judges are looking for inspirational examples of digital innovation, technological robustness and creative originality in any project undertaken within the last 2 years. This award is open to both digital companies and companies who may not be predominantly digital but are embracing digital technologies and strategies to improve their business. In this category the judges will look for creativity and innovation in the use of digital. Entries can span all kinds of standalone and multichannel programmes, events, experiences and initiatives that have a digital element. The focus is on how the project shows novel thinking or a clever idea in the use of digital or where a problem has been solved in a new way using digital, even where the technology used is no longer considered “new”.
Judges will be looking for details on the performance of the project to the client and the intended audience. Eligible businesses include businesses embracing digital technologies, as well as software developers and coders, those who provide digital marketing channels, social marketing, SEO operations and digital sales platforms. Sponsored by SS&C
Environmental Excellence Award
New for the 2022 Awards is the Environmental Excellence Award. Businesses need to take seriously the green agenda, not least because customers will increasingly demand the companies they work with are doing everything they can to meet carbon net zero targets and be more sustainable and responsible. Judges will look for evidence based on the following criteria:
- A plan for reducing carbon emissions and reaching carbon net zero targets
- Progress made so far to implement green strategies
- How environmental changes are at the heart of a business and not just an afterthought
- Positive impact on the business’s local community in regards to sustainability
- A responsible and ethical approach to business Sponsored by Safran Nacelles
Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Award
Entrants for this award should demonstrate their contribution to Burnley’s leisure and tourism economy for residents or visitors.
We are looking for entrants who help bring in people from outside the area, and offer reasons for residents to stay and spend here. The judges will be looking for innovative ideas to attract new visitors and customers both externally and internally. This award category is open to hospitality and leisure businesses such as attractions, spas, sports venues, gyms, and hotels, events venues, pubs, bars and restaurants, farms or any other business that attracts people in and out of the borough to visit;. Judges are looking for a stand-out leisure business that can demonstrate a strong business model, excellent customer service and/or innovation in the workplace. Sponsored by Eric Wright Construction and Maple Grove Developments
The Employer of the Year Award
This award recognises organisations that have created a stimulating and supportive work environment and a real commitment to the welfare of its employees, resulting in high staff satisfaction levels and a well-motivated, ambitious and integrated workforce. Judges will be looking for:
- Positive leadership and management
- An integrated ethical culture across the company
- A clear human resources policy that creates a stimulating and supportive workplace
- How employees are engaged with company values and strategic goals
Able to demonstrate that are a youth-friendly employer, whether through KickStart placements, apprentices, work experience and supporting young people’s transition into the workplace.
Sponsored by Rotherwood Recruitment.
Young Employee of the Year Award
Nominated by their employer, this category is open to a young employee or apprentice who has been employed by the company for up to 2 years and aged 25 or under. The nomination must demonstrate how the individual has had a significant impact on the business and made a personal contribution to a project or business as a whole. This might include career progression, relevant personal or professional qualifications or other training. This person’s company will need to support their entry in this category and confirm the positive impact they have made in their job role and to the overall business or organisation.
Sponsored by Barnfield Construction.
Entertainment sponsor – AMS Neve
Table wine sponsor – Forbes Solicitors
Champagne sponsor – VEKA
Table arrangement sponsor – John Spencer Textiles
Print sponsor – Peter Scott Printers
Media partner – Burnley Express
With support from the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
More information
KEY DATES
- For Entries: Thursday 3rd February 2022
- Closing Date for Entries: Friday 8th April
- Shortlisting: Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th April
- Finalist Interviews/Presentations: Wednesday 4th May and Thursday 5th May
- Burnley Business Awards Ceremony: Thursday 30th June 2022
HOW TO ENTER
All entries must be submitted online – NOMINATE YOUR BUSINESS HERE. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to give a short presentation to the judging panels giving businesses their time to shine and impress the judges.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE – ALMOST SOLD OUT
Tickets are £95 each, full table booking discounts are: Table for 10 – £900.
Your ticket includes: Champagne Reception, Table Wine, Dinner, Entertainment, Award Presentations, After Party
PLEASE EMAIL burnley@asp-events.com for ALL TICKETING ENQUIRIES.
Burnley Business Awards 2022 finalists revealed
The finalists of the Burnley Business Awards 2022 have been revealed, after a tough round of shortlisting for the judges.
After a three-year break, businesses in the borough entered in their droves, with the small business categories alone taking around half of the entries.
Judges from the category sponsors and independent third parties met at the Holiday Inn Express to whittle down the entries and they decided on the following finalists:
Small Business (0-19 employees – sponsored by Paradigm Precision)
Ellis’s
Timeless Fragrance Co
Checkedsafe
CUBE HR
MacMahon Leggate Chartered Accountants
Root Fifty-two
The Landmark
Small Business (20-49 sponsored by Paradigm Precision)
The Low Carbon Energy Company
Equestrian Surfaces
Process Instruments
Speakman Contractors
FloControl Ltd.
Medium Business (sponsored by Crow Wood)
Birchall Foodservice
Coolkit Ltd
AMS Neve
Large Business (sponsored by Charter Walk Shopping Centre)
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort
Fagan & Whalley
VEKA
The Calico Group
Manufacturing Excellence (sponsored by Burnley College)
BCW
VEKA
Equestrian Surfaces
Process Instruments
The Employer of the Year (sponsored by Rotherwood Recruitment)
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort
Birchall Foodservice
VEKA
Pendleside Hospice
International Trade (sponsored by +24 Marketing)
Process Instruments
AMS Neve
Young Employee (sponsored by Barnfield Construction)
Pendleside Hospice – Adrianne Laird – Health and Social Care Apprentice
FloControl Ltd – Aaron Lundie – Sales Administrator
Schofield & Associates Financial Planning Ltd – Toby Uttley-Muldoon – Financial Adviser
Batch Brew Limited (Batch Distillery) – Ryan Evans – Head Distiller
Innovation (sponsored by SS&C)
Checked Safe
Process Instruments
Red-Fern Media
Birchalls Foodservice
Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (sponsored by Eric Wright Construction and Maple Grove Developments)
Ellis’s
Illuminati Restaurant & Bar
Burnley Leisure & Culture
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort
Environmental Excellence (sponsored by Safran Nacelles)
RecycleIT
Burnley College
The Low Carbon Energy Company
The Burnley Business Awards 2022 will be held at Towneley Hall on 30th June.
The 11 categories proved popular with the borough’s business community and the finalists will present to the judging panel this week at Impact Conferencing.
Mick Cartledge, chief executive at Burnley Council, which is leading the event, said: “I know the judges were incredibly impressed by the entries and it was a tough job to whittle down the entries to the finalists. This was especially the case in the small business categories, which were by far our most popular.
“It’s testament to the hard work and resilience of our business community over the past two years and I’d like to thank Burnley businesses for their commitment and perseverance. And to those who did not make the finals, please do not be disheartened, the volume of entries was high, and we’d certainly encourage you to bring your success stories to us once again at the next Burnley Business Awards.
“All the best to the finalists and we look forward to celebrating the borough’s determination on the night of the awards.”