The best businesses in and around Burnley have been praised, after being named award finalists.

The finalists of the Burnley Business Awards 2024 have been revealed after a tough round of shortlisting for the judges.

Businesses in the borough entered in their droves, with the small business categories alone taking a significant proportion of the entries, reflecting the town’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Michael Huckerby, director of The Lawrence Hotel in Padiham, said he is honoured to be nominated for best small business (11-49 employees) and best leisure, tourism and hospitality business.

He said: “It’s wonderful for our team to have been nominated for the award.

"Burnley and Padiham have so many amazing businesses and we are honoured to be nominated with the best of them.”

The Royal Dyche is nominated in the small business (0-10 employees) and leisure, tourism, and hospitality business categories.

Landlady Justine Lorriman said: “Myself and my team are delighted to be shortlisted for small business and leisure, tourism, and hospitality awards.

“We are really excited to attend the awards together as a team in July and we wish all the local businesses shortlisted the best of luck!”

Judges from the category sponsors and independent third parties met at the Holiday Inn Express to whittle down the entries and they decided on the following finalists:

Small business (0-10 employees – sponsored by Pursuit Aerospace)

  • Bandicoot IT
  • CheckedSafe
  • Craig Atkinson Removals
  • E&M Property Solutions
  • Miro Products
  • Schofield & Associates Financial Planning
  • Six Connections
  • TCB Designs
  • The Royal Dyche
  • Participation Works

Small business (11-49 employees – sponsored by Pursuit Aerospace)

  • +24 Marketing
  • Ellis’s
  • Financial Affairs
  • Root Fifty-Two
  • Scope Fire & Security
  • The Lawrence Hotel
  • The Low Carbon Energy Company

Medium business (50-250 employees – sponsored by Crow Wood)

  • AMS Neve Limited
  • Curantis Healthcare Limited
  • ESP Play
  • The Burnley Bus Company

Large business (over 250 employees – sponsored by Charter Walk Shopping Centre)

  • BCW Group 
  • Crow Wood
  • EFS Global 
  • Fagan & Whalley 
  • VEKA

International trade of the year (sponsored by +24 Marketing)

  • AMS Neve Limited

Manufacturing excellence (sponsored by Burnley College)

  • LifeLab Supplements
  • Safran
  • VEKA

Innovation (sponsored by SS&C)

  • +24 Marketing
  • Burnley Leisure & Culture
  • CheckedSafe

Environmental excellence (sponsored by Safran)

  • RecycleIT
  • Rene K Couture
  • The Low Carbon Energy Company

Leisure, tourism and hospitality (sponsored by Nybble.co.uk Ltd)

  • Burnley Leisure & Culture – Prairie Sports Village
  • Crow Wood
  • Ellis’s
  • The Lawrence
  • The Palazzo
  • The Royal Dyche

Employer of the year (sponsored by Ring Stones)

  • BFC in the Community
  • Fagan & Whalley 
  • Safran
  • VEKA

Young employee of the year (sponsored by Barnfield Construction)

  • Sophie Clark – Boohoo Group
  • Alex Gill – Burnley College
  • Emily O’Keefe – Calico Homes
  • Cameron McGuire – The Burnley Bus Company

Lukman Patel, chief executive at Burnley Council, which is organising the event, said: “I know the judges were incredibly impressed by the entries and it was a tough job to whittle down the entries to the finalists.

"This was especially the case in the small business categories, which were by far our most popular.

“It’s a testament to the hard work and resilience of our business community I’d like to thank Burnley businesses for their commitment to raising the prosperity of the borough.

"And to those who did not make the finals, please do not be disheartened, the volume of entries was high, and we’d certainly encourage you to bring your success stories to us once again at the next Burnley Business Awards.

"Of course, everyone is still welcome to attend to celebrate the success of their hard-working employees.

“All the best to the finalists and we look forward to celebrating the borough’s determination on the night of the awards.”