Legacy for business as awards comes to town

Winning feeling: The 2013 BIBAs winners on stage at the Tower Ballroom

The final 48-hour countdown to the Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs, at Blackpool Tower has begun.

Some of the county’s top business chiefs have told how they are looking forward to the sell-out event on Friday.

And this year, as well as the prestige of winning an award, successful businesses will also get help from the BIBAs Academy – a top end support package for winning firms.

Norman Tenray, vice-president of awards organisers the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said the move is one of two legacy projects which will followthe prize-giving ceremony.

BIBAs Academy will launch alongside Lancaster University Management School, and the BIBAs Foundation, a fund made up of donations from leading members of Lancashire’s business community, will hand cash to organisations and charities throughout the county.

Mr Tenray, the managing director of Longridge-based builders’ merchant, OBAS UK, said: “The BIBAs has been recognising and celebrating the achievements of businesses across Lancashire for many years, but this year is even more special.

“Far from handing out trophies and then leaving it at that, the BIBAs is continuing its support for its winners with a fantastic package being offered by the BIBAs Academy, and helping make Lancashire a better place through the BIBAs Foundation.”

A total of 19 trophies, known as the BIBAs, will be handed out in front of a sell-out crowd at the Blackpool Tower, marking the end of a journey which began seven months ago when a record number of firms entered the awards.

The awards include prizes for businesses large and small, new and long-standing as well as two special prizes, the Most Inspiring Business of the Year and the Lancastrian of the Year lifetime  achievement award.

Tony Morgan, head of business engagement at the BIBAs’ headline sponsor, Superfast Lancashire, said he could not wait for one of the biggest nights in Lancashire’s business calendar to get under way.

He said: “I personally cannot wait to be in the Circus Theatre at the Blackpool Tower on Friday night when the winners are announced and the fabulous business community of Lancashire gets together to celebrate.”