Brilliant Burnley is open for business

The grand surroundings were a fitting venue for the 2017 Burnley Business Awards which celebrated, showcased and applauded the very best the borough has to offer.

On a night when there were so many winners, in front of so many faces – 600 to be exact – family firm Birchall Foodservice was crowned “Business of the Year”.

The food wholesaler moved to the new Burnley Bridge Business Park two years ago, a move which enabled it to grow and diversify.

Boasting a pedigree dating back to 1939, the business is a specialist in multi-temperature foodservice, offering next day delivery of grocery, chilled, fresh, frozen, dairy and non-foods to caterers around the nation.

A champagne reception had earlier greeted guests on arrival who came in their hundreds to the ceremony, perfectly organised by Burnley Borough Council and the Burnley Bondholders Scheme.

Indeed, it is that fusion of council and business working together that has boosted Burnley’s profile around the country and given it the platform to help businesses thrive.

Hosted by Simon Brierley, managing director of local radio station 2BR, the evening kicked off with a musical performance from Basics Junior Theatre School and culminated in local singer Gavin Young.

Magic and opera was sprinkled in between before the serious business of naming the winners commenced:

Small Business of the Year: Ian Mankin; Highly Commended, Seriun.

Small Business of the Year (20-49 employees): Pickup Systems.

Medium Business of te Year: Crow Wood Leisure.

International Business of the Year: Panaz.

Manufacturing Excellence: Coolkit Ltd.

Innovation Award: CheckedSafe.

Young Employee of the Year: James Wright; Highly Commended, Carrice Dickinson.

John Kennedy Apprenticeship Award: Paradigm Precision.

Digital Impact: FDM Digital Solutions.

Employer of the Year: VEKA.

Chief Executive’s Special Award: Primary Engineer.

Longstanding Contribution to Burnley: Fagan and Whalley.

Business of the Year: Birchall Foodservice.