A PROMINENT East Lancashire businessman has spoken of his delight after landing a prestigious award.
Khalid Saifullah, managing director of Star Tissue, received the Arte Et Labore Award for his commitment to making Blackburn with Darwen a more prosperous place to live at the Hive Business Awards at King Georges Hall.
Mr Saifullah is a former Hive chairman and is on the board of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.
He said: “I love Blackburn, it made me what I am today.
“It’s a great place to live and work. Community is our strength and I’ve always believed in Blackburn.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to work in Blackburn. There’s so many good things happening with Blackburn BID, Blackburn Rovers and what’s happening in the town centre with new businesses coming in.
“I have always considered Blackburn to be the capital of the northern powerhouse and it’s becoming moreso.
“It was a mix of shock and joy when my name was announced and it’s just a massive privilege to be honoured in this way.”
One of the big winners of the night was Vampire Vape, who landed both the growth business award and the manufacturing, innovation and technology excellence.
Ian Brown, chair of the HIVE network, said: “The quality of the shortlisted companies and the winners are testament to the business community in Blackburn.
“We had a wonderful cross-section of manufacturers and supply chains in to hall on the night and there was a real positive vibe.
“Even the MC (Tez Ilyas) was from the town so it was a celebration of Blackburn with Darwen throughout.
“There are so many good stories coming out of the borough at the moment we just need to get them out there for the world to hear.
“It was a fantastic event and I’m absolutely thrilled how it all passed off.”
Winners
The Creative and Digital Award
Bigtank Video Productions Ltd
The Professional Services Award
Napthens LLP
The Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Award
Unit 2 Fitness for Women
The Buzz Award
Festival of Making CIC
The Manufacturing, Innovation and
Technology Excellence Award
Flavour Warehouse (Vampire Vape)
Highly commended - Rotalube
The Family Business Award
Pulford Farm Dairies
The Commitment to Blackburn and Darwen Award
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust
The Investing in Future Skills Award
Lancashire Deaf Service
The Growth Business Award
Flavour Warehouse (Vampire Vape)
The New Business Award
S&H Group
Highly Commended - Cryo Express Limited
The Hive Business School Award
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
The Hive Rising Star Award
(Under 30 years old)
Melanie Thomas - Blackburn Youth Zone
The Hive Employee of the Year
Laura Diffey - The Mall Blackburn
Hive Small Business of the Year
(1-50 full-time employees)
Stones Young
Hive Large Business of the Year
(51-plus full-time employees)
Curtis Law Solicitors LLP
The Arte Et Labore Award
Khalid Saifullah
The Hive Chairman’s Award
Blackburn BID
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