Best in the business
Wisdom, enterprise and caring for staff and customers were all recognised at Wigan companies' starriest night of the year.
While the spectre of recession was not completely banished from the festivities of the annual Wigan Business Awards, the mood was upbeat as many an unsung achiever was recognised.
Almost 300 people gathered in he JJB Stadium Marquee suite for a glittering ceremony which saw 27 top firms vying for 10 coveted prizes.
And the winners were...
Best family business: W Howard of Astley which is a manufacturer of MDF mouldings and, now on the third generation of its family, is this year celebrating its golden anniversary.
Best small business: Bullit Recruitment Solutions in Pemberton which supplies IT contract and permanent staff around the North West.
Fastest growing business: Lowri Beck of Wigan which specialises in independent meter reading and data services to the utility market.
Most customer-focused business: Wigan-based Oltec provides security services, owns Smiths of Wigan and the Haweswater Hotel in the Lake District.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Angela Lucas of Wigan town centre travel agency, Holiday Getaway, which she took over earlier this year and is now rapidly expanding.
Most innovative business: Tyrrell Systems is a Leigh-based company that uses technology to allow customers such as shopping centres and hospitals control lighting, heating, CCTV and alarm systems from a single point.
Young people's training award: Hughes Brothers of Leigh is a large shopfitting firm, a portion of whose trainee workforce always comprises ex-offenders.
Publicity award: Wigan Athletic for the way it attracts visitors to Wigan and prides itself on its customers, aka the fans.
Special achievement award: CLM Ltd which is an expert is electrical safety and whose customers include local authorities, and NHS trusts.
Business of the year: the biggest prize of the night went to Worsley Mesnes-based C-Tec which designs and manufactures electrical safety equipment including fire alarms and communication systems for the disabled.
The President of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Miranda Allan, said the calibre of entrants, of which there were double the number of last year, had been particularly high and she looked forward to an even bigger competition next year.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Andy Burnham, Leigh MP and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
He said: "These are difficult times for the economy, there is no getting away from that. Although it is heartening to see a room full of companies from our borough, this is an uncertain time and it spreads to us all.
"The effects will be increasingly felt now at a local level, but we will get through so long as we pull together and work together. This borough has always thrived through partnership."
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 02 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
