Firm entries shortlisted for awards

OLDHAM Business Awards judging panel visit to Kesan Foods . . . (from left) Rachael Land of Unity Partnership, Robbie MacDonald (Oldham Chronicle), Simon Jones of Nat West with Mumtaz Khan of Kesan Foods

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THE shortlisted finalists for the 2017 Oldham Business Awards have been unveiled and include a number of firms entering for the first time. See the full list below.

Award organisers say this year's event, now in its ninth year, have seen nominations reach a record high.

Over recent weeks, judging panels have assessed applications from a wide range of businesses and then shortlisted three finalists for each of 11 categories.

All shortlisted finalists are being invited to an informal reception at the Derker offices of headline sponsor Innovative Technology on Thursday, March 30, from 5.30 to 7pm. Guests will have the chance to meet other finalists, organisers and sponsors.

Other headline sponsors this year are NatWest, Web Applications, the Stoller Charitable Trust and Oldham Council.

The individual award category sponsors include Business Growth Hub, Zen Office, Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, Seftons Accountants, Unity Partnership, Oldham Enterprise Trust, Joseph Parr (Alco), First Choice Homes, KPMG and Oldham College.

The shortlists of finalists have been drawn-up by judging panels consisting of representatives of NatWest, category sponsors and volunteers on the awards steering group. Once each panel's shortlist was checked and confirmed, each judging panel has carried out workplace visits to meet their chosen shortlisted finalists and find out more about their businesses. The visits are a new addition to the judging process, designed to boost networking and business advisory opportunities, raise understanding of the awards and to provide some benefit to all the shortlisted finalists, regardless of whether or not they become overall winners.

For example, one of the judging panels has shortlisted nominations for the Business Person of the Year category. The panel consisted of Simon Jones of NatWest, Rachael Land, of Unity Partnership, and Robbie MacDonald of the Oldham Evening Chronicle and Oldham Business Edge magazine. They are pictured during a visit to meet Mumtaz Khan, of Kesan Foods, based at the Forge Industrial Estate in Greenacres.

Simon said: "It was great to meet the different business people and hear their stories and plans. I found the whole experience very useful and beneficial for all parties.

Rachael added: "It was great to meet the shortlisted candidates. I've never participated in this kind of activity before and I found the whole experience very interesting. The visits were very informative. Now I'm looking forward to the reception at Innovative Technology."

Next week's reception is the latest event in a programme of Oldham Business Award gatherings through the year. These have included two previous networking receptions at Oldham Event Centre and the Blue Tiffin restaurant, and the annual Oldham Corporate Quiz at the White Hart in Lydgate.

Associate sponsors for this year's awards include Brand Consortia, Patterson &Rothwell Injection Moulding, Doing Biz For Yourself, Tunnel Engineering Services (UK), Handelsbanken, JW Lees, Ribble Packaging, Precision Pallets and Cases, Staff Oldham, Manchester Cabins, Asian Business Leaders, Whittaker Design, O'Donnell Solicitors and Breakey & Nuttall.

The overall winners will be unveiled at the black-tie awards dinner and ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Hallon Friday, May 12. Finalists and sponsors will be contacted by organisers about their ticket allocations.

Tickets are also available to purchase at the official website at www.oldhambusinessawards.co.uk.

The website includes details on ticket arrangements for finalists, sponsors, group and individual bookings.

2017 FINALISTS

Business of the Year (turnover above £10 million): Park Cake, Ribble Packaging and Ultimate Products.

Business of the Year (turnover £5 million to £10million): Bunkabin, Joseph Parr (Alco) and George Hill Timber.

Business of the Year (turnover £1million to £5million): Cladding Coatings, Dual Stream and Thomas Dornan Printers

Business of the Year (turnover below £1million): Cake n Teapot, O’Donnell Solicitors and Pebble Group.

Business Person of the Year: Phil Delaney of Dale Bathrooms, Mumtaz Khan of Kesan Foods and Mike Braddock of PARFAS.

Supporting Young People: Unity Partnership, Linda Lewis Kitchens and Aspect Fire Solutions.

Employer of the Year: Fab Group, Oldham Chiropractic Clinic and Rryder & Dutton.

Young Entrepreneur: Romad Videikis of Rovi Auto Performance, Eric Bishyika of SW Clothing, and Darryl Jackson of Tour Media.

Start-Up: Digital Refresh, Simply Skin laser clinic and O’Donnell Solicitors/

Young Business of the Year: Baby Ballet, Kesan Foods and Tour Media

Community Engagement: Capita Translation & Interpreting, Safeguard Fusion Training and Zapz gaming bus.

Special Recognition Award: to be announced at the final ceremony on May 12.