THE Bolton and Bury Business Awards are back!

 

Once again we will be celebrating the best of local businesses at our awards ceremony at The Macron Stadium on Thursday, September 28.

 

We have launched the search to find the best in the business — with 11 categories, from Family Business of the Year through to International Business of the Year.

 

The awards which represent Bolton and Bury’s finest, are now in their 12th year.

 

Our sponsors, who will help to judge the entries, include headline sponsors Bolton Council, who are this year joined by The Emerson Group, one of the largest privately owned property development companies in the United Kingdom.

 

Emerson was founded by Peter Emerson Jones in 1959 and has many connections to Bolton — under its commercial arm Orbit Developments, it owns Middlebrook Retail Park, and through Jones Homes was responsible for the Smithills Coaching House development.

 

Sponsoring individual categories again are Market Place Bolton (Business of the Year), MBDA (Customer Excellence), Bristol Street Motors (Community Award) and Carrs Pasties (Family Business of the Year).

 

The host for the evening will be Darren Proctor, who currently broadcasts on Key 2 Radio and Key103.

 

He has also presented nationally on several key chart shows including the Pepsi Network Chart and the UK Smash Hits Radio.

 

The awards presentation will follow a three course meal and at the end of the evening there will be music from a DJ.

 

This year, entering the 11 award categories is easier than ever. Simply log on to www.newsquestnorthwest.co.uk/business-awards.html to see the category criteria and complete the application form.

 

Entries close on Friday, June 23.

 

Here’s what our sponsors say about the awards:

 

Stephen Young, Director of Place at Bolton Council, said: “The Bolton and Bury Business Awards showcase the best of new and existing businesses in the area and the council is happy to support the awards again this year. We are committed to making Bolton ‘open for business’ and supporting both large and small businesses to grow and develop. We are also investing in infrastructure, transport and the public realm, as well as leisure and cultural attractions, to make Bolton a place where businesses want to be, both now and in the future.”

 

Paul Burgess, Emerson Group Main Board Director, said: “As a major residential and commercial property developer/investor in the Bolton borough for nearly 40 years now, The Emerson Group is very proud to be a main sponsor of this year’s awards, which is a major date in the business life of Bolton and Bury. The importance of the event, held at the Macron Stadium, in the heart of our Middlebrook and Parklands schemes, cannot be underestimated, as it is a chance to showcase the fantastic entrepreneurial spirit and achievements of the region, and celebrate the successes of businesses of all sizes.

 

“Just as we are continuing our investments in the borough, we look forward to hearing about and sharing the success stories of other businesses from the region.”

 

Nikki Wilson-Cook, Centre Manager at Market Place, said:” We’re really excited to be sponsoring the Bolton & Bury Business Awards once again. I’m passionate about supporting local businesses because I get to see first-hand the positive impact they can have, not just on the local economy, but on the local people too. These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the individuals behind local businesses and I can’t wait to see their commitment and dedication rewarded in the ceremony in September.”

 

Darren Murray, general manager of Bristol Street Motors, Bolton, said: “We are extremely proud to be supporting the Bolton & Bury Business Awards again this year.

 

“There is a huge amount of investment in refurbishment of the dealership in Higher Bridge Street currently and workmen are now on site. We are hopeful it will help to regenerate that part of town and create local jobs.

 

We are planning to invest a further £12 million in 2018 in building a Land Rover Jaguar dealership on the site.”

 

A spokesman for MBDA said: “MBDA’s UK manufacturing operations have been rooted in the Bolton area for more than 70 years, so we’re delighted to sponsor the Business Awards.

 

“We have invested more than £40m in our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, recently visited by the Prime Minister. It underlines our commitment to the North West - securing defence capability for the future, along with local jobs - so we are proud to be a supporter of the Business Awards and a part of the community.”

 

Ian Savage, Editor in Chief of The Bolton News and the Bury Times group, said: “The Bolton News is 150 years old in 2017 and the Bury Times 161 and the awards are a key event of the year. There are amazing businesses and business people in both towns and it is important that we recognise the valuable contribution they make. I would urge people to enter as soon as possible.”

CATEGORIES

Business of the Year

Family Business of the Year

Business person of the Year

Start Up Business of the Year

SME Business of the year

Young Person

Customer Excellence

Community Award

Best Company for Apprenticeship Development

Retailer of the Year

International Business of Year