A farm frequently visited by local celebs and a consulting agency that impressed a former Dragon’s Den investor are just some of the impressive East Lancashire businesses on the shortlist.

This year’s event will take place just six months after the 2021 ceremony – which was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic – but that hasn’t stopped organisations from across Lancashire flooding the nominations process with good news stories.

A new category created specifically to recognise micro-businesses has proven especially popular and so has the tourism category – despite that being one of the most severely-affected industries over the last two years.

Each shortlisted organisation now has the opportunity to present their case in person to a panel of hand-picked, independent judges and sponsors at a special event on April 27 and 28.

All nominees will also be given the support of Sales Geek which will deliver a free-of-charge story-telling masterclass, drawing on their own experiences of winning multiple Red Rose Awards in the past.

The judges will then pick a winner in each of the 22 categories, which cover sectors and sizes of business, as well as specific achievements such as customer service excellence and going green.

Delilah Chloe, a home fragrance shop on Bolton Road in Blackburn, said they were “overwhelmed” after hearing they have been nominated for best new business.

Kirsty Elmer, co-owner of Delilah Chloe in Blackburn

A spokesperson said: “Wow.. we’re completely shocked and overwhelmed today!

“We’re up for the New Business Award and we’re up against some serious competition. The awards cover the whole of Lancashire, so to become a finalist.. little us.. is just absolutely amazing!

“We always say ‘we’re here to put Lancashire on the map’ and that’s what we’ll keep pushing to do.”

• READ MORE: Inside Blackburn’s new home fragrance shop

Burnley consulting agency, Cube HR, is up for two awards this year – the Customer Service award and the Micro Business award.

The business was once praised by a former Dragon’s Den investor, Theo Paphitis.

• READ MORE: Burnley business recognised by former Dragons' Den investor

A spokesperson said: “We are thrilled to announce that Cube HR are finalists in two categories at the Lancashire Business View Red Rose Awards 2022.

“Having won the Red Rose Award 2021 for Customer Service we are back to defend our title as a finalist in this category, underlining once again our ongoing commitment to giving our clients a personalised, people focussed service that helps their business to thrive.

“We may be small but we believe, and our clients tell us, that we are mighty in everything we do to support them.”

Mrs Dowson’s Farm in Clayton-Le-Dale has been shortlisted for a Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality award.

The farm has proven popular with locals and has even attracted the attention of celebrities in recent months.

• READ MORE: Helen Flanagan visits Clayton-le-Dale pumpkin farm

They were finalists in two categories in 2021 but didn’t scoop an award.

Owner, Amanda Dowson, hopes they come home victorious this year.

She said: “I think it is absolutely amazing to have made it to the finals.

"These awards are very impressive in this location and people do listen to them.

“As a family-run and medium-sized business, it’s great that we’ve been thought about. We are up against some giants but we are going to give it ago.

“We hope to continue our success in the coming years.”

The full list of Lancashire’s Red Rose Awards 2022 finalists are:

Built Environment Award

Sponsored by Harrison Drury Solicitors

Cassidy+Ashton Architects, Preston

Collinson Construction, Preston

Fox Group, Blackpool
HPA Chartered Architects, Lancaster

Kingswood Homes, Preston

Murton & Co, Lancaster

 

Corporate Social Responsibility Award 

Sponsored by Community Foundation for Lancashire

 

Chorley Building Society, Chorley

Elektec, Darwen

Fox Group, Blackpool

Go Velo, Colne

nybble.co.uk, Blackburn

RJ8, Burnley

 

Customer Service Award

Sponsored by Seriun

 

Chorley Group, Chorley

CUBE HR, Burnley

Higher People, Preston

Revive! Preston, Preston

Skiddle, Preston

Trident Utilities, Blackpool

 

Design Award

Sponsored by Peter Scott Printers

 

Bigtank Productions, Ramsbottom

Jellymedia, Blackpool

TCB Designs, Burnley

Think!Creative, Poulton-Le-Fylde

Two Stories, Lancaster

Walk Tall Creative, Edenfield

 

Digital Award

21Digital, Blackburn

Bigtank Productions, Ramsbottom

CheckedSafe, Burnley

Jellymedia, Blackpool

Red-Fern Media, Burnley

Redmoor Health, Chorley

 

Employer of the Year Award

Sponsored by Four Recruitment

 

Active Lancashire, Leyland

BiU, Lytham St. Annes

Burnley College, Burnley

Connect Childcare, Brierfield

Shelter Lancashire, Blackburn

Spencer Clarke Group, Preston

 

Export Award

Sponsored by PM+M

 

Carvansons, Haslingden

Equestrian Surfaces, Burnley

Kerax, Chorley

Slingco, Rossendale

VMS Solutions, Thornton-Cleveleys

Tensar International, Blackburn

 

Family Business Award

Sponsored by Napthens Solicitors

Fagan & Whalley, Padiham

Forest Group, Blackburn

Frederick’s Ice Cream, Chorley

GHW Windows, Blackburn

Redmoor Health, Chorley

Star Tissue UK, Blackburn

 

Green Award

Sponsored by Mattioli Woods plc

 

Crowberry Consulting, Chorley

Equestrian Surfaces, Burnley

Freedom Heat Pumps, Bamber Bridge

Morecambe Bay Chowder Co, Morecambe

RecycleIT, Burnley

Senator International, Accrington

 

Health and Wellbeing Award

Sponsored by Alcidion

 

Breathe Therapies, Preston

Counselling in the Community, Blackpool

Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing, Preston

Progress Lifeline, Leyland

RJ8, Burnley

Six Connections, Burnley

 

Innovation Award

Sponsored by the University of Central Lancashire

 

Alcidion, Burnley

Breathe Therapies, Preston

CheckedSafe, Burnley

ELE Advanced Technologies, Colne

IN4 Group, Preston

Trident Utilities, Blackpool

 

Large Business Award

Sponsored by Forbes Solicitors

Chorley Group, Chorley

CMAC Group, Accrington

Fox Group, Blackpool

GA Pet Food, Chorley

James’ Places, Clitheroe

Slingco, Rawtenstall

 

Made in Lancashire Award

Sponsored by Barclays

ELE Advanced Technologies, Colne

Marvtech, Burnley

Slingco, Rossendale

Star Tissue UK, Blackburn

Strongdor, Carnforth

Tensar International, Blackburn

 

Medium Business Award

Sponsored by Azets

 

Forest Group, Blackburn

Freedom Heat Pumps, Bamber Bridge

Redmoor Health, Chorley

Spencer Clarke Group, Preston

Strongdor, Carnforth

Tile Mart, Preston

 

Micro Business Award

Complete Online Solutions, Blackpool

CUBE HR, Burnley

ITPR, Preston

Juniper Wealth Management, Preston

Pop Up Entertainment, Blackburn

The Luxury Copywriter, Ormskirk

 

New Business Award

Sponsored by Porsche Centre Preston

 

Delilah Chloe, Blackburn

Disruptive Foods, Kirkham

Scope Fire & Security, Blackburn

Serconnect, Blackburn

Sid Hill Transport, Thornton-Cleveleys

The Little Lancashire Village, Rawtenstall

 

Not-for-profit Award

Sponsored by United Utilities

 

Active Lancashire, Leyland

Advocacy Focus, Accrington

Artz for All, Skelmersdale

Blackpool FC Community Trust, Blackpool

Empowerment Charity, Blackpool

Lancashire Women, Accrington

 

Professional Services Award

Sponsored by Matrix247

 

Becketts FS, Poulton-le-Fylde

Cortus Advisory Group, Fullwood

Farleys Solicitors, Blackburn

MJH Accountants, Preston

True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners, Chorley

Woodcocks, Haworth & Nuttall Solicitors, Blackburn

 

Resilience Award

Forsberg Services, Heysham

Fresh Perspective Resourcing, Chorley

nybble.co.uk, Blackburn

PDS CNC Engineering, Nelson

GHW Windows, Blackburn

Frederick’s Ice Cream, Chorley

 

Scale-Up Award

Sponsored by Cube Thinking

Alcedo Care Group, Preston

B2BTradeCard, Chorley

ELE Advanced Technologies, Colne

Freedom Heat Pumps, Bamber Bridge

Luxus Design, Preston

Spencer Clarke Group, Preston

 

Small Business Award

Sponsored by Fox Group

 

Acumen Financial Partnership, Burscough

B2BTradeCard, Chorley

Becketts FS, Poulton-le-Fylde

Empress Fencing, Chatburn

Red-Fern Media, Burnley

Serconnect, Blackburn

 

Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Award

Sponsored by Porsche Centre Bolton

Brindle Distillery, Chorley

Crow Wood Leisure, Burnley

James’ Places, Clitheroe

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Clayton-le-Dale

The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Preston

Winter Gardens Blackpool, Blackpool

 

Oliver Burton, chief executive at Forbes Solicitors, headline sponsors of the awards for the twelfth year, said: “Shortlisting this year has been a very hard task.

“Following the pandemic, businesses should be proud of what they’ve achieved and we are still seeing how they have been resilient and adapted to the benefit of their businesses. Congratulations to all and we look forward to meeting them at judging.”

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View which organises the Red Rose Awards, said: “The feedback to these awards has been tremendous and we are in awe at the feel-good stories we have seen.

“It’s not been a full year since our last ceremony and we appreciate that many businesses are still in the difficult recovery period, but it is clear that this has done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm Lancashire has for celebrating all that is good about living and working in the red rose county.”

Richard added: “We wish all the shortlisted companies well and are very much looking forward to meeting them in-person at the judging event.”

The Red Rose awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 9, at Winter Gardens in Blackpool.