AN EAST Lancashire business chief has urged firms to be “loud and proud” about their achievements.

Mike Damms, the chief executive of East Lancashire’s chamber of commerce, said the Lancashire Telegraph’s Business Awards provided the perfect platform for firms to showcase their successes from the past 12 months.

He said the prestigious event, which launched yesterday, also helped to encourage businesses to strive for the excellence displayed by nominated firms.

Mr Damms said: “We have some truly excellent companies in this area but that it not always fully appreciated and understood so the awards are a wonderful chance to showcase outside the factory gates.

“East Lancashire is one of the great trading centres in the world.

"We don’t celebrate it enough.

“There’s a natural modesty, particularly in manufacturing where the pride is in the engineering and quietly getting on with the job.

“It is good to let people know what talent there is in this area.

“Let’s be loud and proud and celebrate excellence”

Mr Damms said the awards would “inspire other firms to aspire” to the excellence shown by the winners, and could also provide contacts for firms as entrants look to deal with recognised companies, he said.

Mr Damms said the current economic circumstances meant the awards were more important.

He said: “What times of recession do is make people think everyone is a loser.

"The place is going backwards. That is far from the truth. The vast majority of companies continue to perform.”