Family Business Award finalists

Design & Build Publishing Ltd

A COMPANY co-owned by The Apprentice finalist Michaela Wain is a finalist for the Family Business of the Year Award 2019.

She and her brother, Lee-John Ryan, started Design & Build Publishing Ltd in 2012 and have developed a successful business of publications, social network management, marketing and connecting businesses.

They have grown the readership of Design & Build UK magazine to more than 100,000 and bought their own building on Crown Street in Bolton town centre. They plan to expand services internationally in the next three to five years.

Commented Michaela: “We’re super pleased to be shortlisted for this award.

“We’ve worked tirelessly over the years to drive our business forward, taking it to a national level whilst helping the local community. The company is national but we will never leave the place where it all started. It’s amazing to get recognition for the work we have put in.”

HCS Cleaning Services

A COMPANY that began 51 years ago as a Breightmet window cleaning round is a finalist for the Family Business of the Year Award 2019.

HCS Cleaning Services was started by Timothy Horan in 1968. Son Chris joined him in 1980 and later took over the business.

In 2014, Chris’s son Scott Horan and his partner Josh Hulstone joined the business with the intention of transforming it into what it is today – a commercial window cleaning company that covers all the North-west and further afield.

The company has gained various sector contracts including high-profile city centre hotels, apartment blocks and NHS health centres. It has expanded to an abseiling division and now provides employment for 11 local staff, set to rise as growth continues.

Commented Scott: “Having won this award in 2018, to be shortlisted again is testament to the hard work the whole team do on a day-to-day basis.”

#Sushma'snacks

WHEN Sushma Solanki started her catering company in 2016 she could not have envisaged how quickly it would grow and prosper.

Now, in 2019, Sushma’s Snacks is a finalist to be Family Business of the Year.

Sushma was working successfully in the corporate travel industry but her passion was food. So she started her own business, providing an alternative to catered food with home-cooked, healthy dishes and now also runs courses to help others create their own food.

Stated Sushma: “I can’t express enough how thrilled I am that Sushma’s Snacks is a finalist in the Family Business category!

“Family is so important to me. I was born in Kenya but my daughters are true Boltonians. Me and my husband Ned couldn’t have wished for a better place to raise our family.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one day I would start a family business here!”

Taylor's Theatre Academy

A PASSION for the theatre drove two Bolton sisters to travel the world performing and then set up their own business back home.

Now, Taylor's Theatre Academy is a finalist to be Family Business of the Year 2019.

Stacey Taylor and Julie Ashton always wanted to provide lessons in singing, dancing and drama. They started off with 30 students just over a year ago in a church house and now have more than 100 and two-floored premises with three studios.

Students have performed at Blackpool Winter Gardens, Bolton’s Albert Halls and, most recently, at the Benidorm Palace. Rehearsals are currently taking place for a show at DisneyLand Paris.

Stacey and Julie stated: “Being a finalist means so much to all of us and shows our hard work and determination is being recognised.

“We love giving children a place to learn new skills within our community, as well as incredible opportunities.”

Traffic Management Survey and Design Ltd

A FATHER and son who started on the road with two traffic management vans have created a successful business which is now a finalist for the Family Business of the Year Award 2019.

Traffic Management Survey and Design Ltd in Leigh started in 2015 as a one-man design company to other traffic management companies across the UK.

Increasingly asked to deliver the work, TMSD started doing just that and now – thanks to hard work - are national suppliers of tailored management services including street works, high speed works and traffic management.

The company now has 12 vans with 15 employees, including other family members, and plans to open two more depots, one in Yorkshire and another in the Midlands, to be running 25 to 30 vehicles.

Scruffymonkey Web Design

A HUSBAND and wife team whose digital agency has local, regional, national and international companies as clients is a finalist for the Family Business of the Year Award 2019.

Scruffymonkey Web Design is headed by Chris and Lindsay Dawes and based in Egerton. The business was started by Chris in 2013 with Lindsay joining him later. Together, they provide a special dynamic and personal approach they believe differentiates them from other local agencies.

They have long-standing relationships with national and local charities and plan to expand in this sector. They also want to develop more services to help local companies access the digital market with affordable packages.

Commented Chris Dawes: “We’re delighted to once again be a finalist for Family Business of the Year. As always, it’s such an honour to be among other great businesses in Bolton and to be recognised for the work we do locally and beyond.”

Commented Managing Director Darren Mills: “As a family who work so much in the business, this is a great award to be shortlisted for.”