ITS a jungle out there - but those who can adapt to the difficult business environment will survive and flourish.

That was the message from intrepid explorer Benedict Allen, who gave guests at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards gala presentation night a rousing speech.

Television presenter and author Benedict said his experiences venturing into some of the globe's most hostile locations could be compared to the increasingly competitive marketplace businesses operate in.

The presentation evening, staged at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, was once again a great event and gave the success stories of East Lancashire's thriving business community a well-deserved spell under the spotlight.

And from the reaction of the 200-strong plus audience, which included local business leaders, MPs and Euro MPs, our judging panel had made well-deserved choices.

The coveted Company of the Year title was won by Wolstenholme Rink, the Darwen based firm which has made a real contribution to the local economy and the community.

Altham-based clothing firm Simon Jersey, which earlier this year won a record order from DHL to help mark its 25th anniversary, was runner-up with FH Brown third.

This year a new category - sponsored by Crown Eyeglass - to reward the bright ideas that East Lancashire is famous for was extremely popular.

And the judges decided Europrint's breakthrough in devising a system to enable a live television bingo game to be played by millions was a worthy winner of the Invention/Innovation of the Year Category.

Staff at the Blackburn-based firm created a method of checking numbers drawn against millions of cards almost instantly.

An innovative marketing tie-up between Coronation Street's Betty's Hotpot and Walter Holland and Sons was runner-up.

The individuals who the judges felt had made a special contribution to the local economy were also rewarded. Steve Hollis, managing director of Cleveland Guest Engineering, won the Business Person of the Year title for his open management style and business acumen.

Paul Whitney, who co-founded hand-finishing firm Whitney Woods was second, and Tony Raynor, who was nominated by his local Chamber of Trade in Blackburn, was highly commended.

Lynx Engineering, where workers went without pay for five weeks to help get the firm off the ground, won the Small Business of the Year title with BHR, Instant Search and MI Transmissions also rewarded.

A comprehensive training policy for new and existing staff won Stella Maris Community Care the Training Achievement of the Year, with Simon Jersey runners-up. Blackburn College won a special commendation for its contribution to the area.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.