A FIRM which specialises in creative marketing is hoping to celebrate a third win at this year's Hive Business Awards.

T-PW Design Consultants, based in Blackburn's India Mill, has been nominated in the creative and digital category and managing director Mark Murray is hopeful of a win.

He said: "We are really proud to be nominated, we have won two awards so far and we are hoping to score a hattrick this year. We want to show that we are the best creative business around."

Now in its sixteenth year, the firm has worked with businesses from start-ups to international restaurant chain Hard Rock Café, and on many health-related Government campaigns.

As with other businesses across the creative sector, TPW was affected by the recession.

Private sector clients stopped marketing, and as austerity hit at a government level, public sector tenders were few and far between.

Mr Murray believes they survived by letting people know they were still around as often as possible, and by strengthening relationships they had already developed.

A Blackburn lad born and bred, Mark believes the passion business leaders in the area have for their businesses gives them a solid starting point for marketing.

And he’s encouraged by Hive, Blackburn and Darwen’s network of business leaders.

Mark said: “If businesses can come together and share the stories of their own business, not only will it be therapeutic, as running your own business is a tough gig, but it will breed a passion for the local economy.”