A filmmaker, an apprentice engineer and an accountant were among the winners of the 2018 Sub36 Awards, the ceremony which celebrates the next generation of Lancashire business success.
The prize-giving event, which featured mouth-watering street food, energetic live music and a lively party atmosphere, took place at Winter Gardens in Blackpool before an audience of over 250.
Individuals under the age of 36, and the businesses they run, were celebrated across 11 awards categories honouring characteristics such as great customer service, innovation and leadership.
The big winner on the night was Laura Taynton of Leonard Dews, who earned the extra special Sub36 Award.
Judges said of Laura, who has faced the greatest of challenges with strength, character and dignity: “Her reaction to adversity, her selfless character and acts of kindness are incredible.
“She has a gift that is rarely found and all who came across her during judging felt lucky and honoured to have met her. While she is a brilliant workplace operator, she also has a passion for making her home town of Blackpool a better place through a variety of voluntary contributions. She embodies the spirit of Sub36.”
Each of the 11 winners will now enter into a mentorship programme in which they will receive advice and support from established entrepreneurs from across Lancashire.
They will be introduced at an exclusive winners’ reception, hosted by Crow Wood Leisure in Burnley next month.
Jaydee Davis, who helped orchestrate the partnerships through the Northern Mentoring Programme, said: “There is some amazing talent in our county and whole process of shortlisting and judging has been extremely tough due to the high calibre of applicants.
“All the winners are very worthy of their awards and the opportunity to allow them to access the new mentoring programme can now support them take their existing and future plans to the next level.”
The winners were selected by a panel of 19 judges, consisting of sponsors, local entrepreneurs and prominent Lancashire figures.
Event founder Richard Slater, who is also the publisher of Lancashire Business View magazine, said: “The Sub36 Awards are the culmination of a year of activities designed exclusively for those aged Sub36 who are leading and working in Lancashire businesses.
“We’ve held a series of popular Sub36 networking events at venues across the county and we’ve dedicated a section of each issue of Lancashire Business View magazine to celebrating Sub36 achievements.
“On the night, we ramped up those celebrations as we honoured endeavour, determination, ambition and commercial acumen; all of which make a positive contribution to our county economy.”
Headline sponsors of the awards were Fat Media. John French, managing director, said:
“We were delighted to be headline sponsor of the Sub36 Awards 2018. The number of submissions for the awards this year was the highest ever and it was a real pleasure to learn about the achievements of so many people in Lancashire during the judging process. Deciding on the winners was a very different task and each winner is extremely deserving of their award.
“Having many young people in the Fat Media team, this event has been a staple of our calendar for the last few years as I think it’s excellent that there is a platform to recognise the young talent in our county. All finalists and winners should be very proud!”
Shortlisted finalists, colleagues and business figures from around the county attended the ceremony, which featured street food-themed dining prepared by With A Twist, sassy musical surprises from DFC Live band, and compering by BBC radio presenter Mike Stevens.
Other supporters of the awards included Begbies Traynor, Blackburn College, Carter-Zub Building Consultancy, Collaborate Business Solutions, Creative Lancashire, Crow Wood, EKM, Empine Group, GetStaffed UK, Hartley People Retention, Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub, Northcote at the Rovers, True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners, Winter Gardens Blackpool and With a Twists.
Further coverage of the awards, including photographs from the night, will be published in the next edition of Lancashire Business View out in November.
The event is a Lancashire Business View production managed by Fettle Events.
Full list of winners
Apprentice Award sponsored by Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub
Lucas Benson, BAE Systems
Creative Award sponsored by Creative Lancashire
Natasha Hawthornthwaite, Northern Heart Films
Customer Champion Award sponsored by Fat Media
Graham Radnedge, Camperversions
Employee of the Year Award sponsored by Hartley People Retention
Joel Turner, Leith Planning
Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by EKM
Laura Leyland, Fresh Perspective Resourcing
Innovator Award sponsored by Collaborate Business Solutions
Austin Waddecar, fulfilmentcrowd
Leader Award sponsored by Blackburn College
Mark Ashton, Artz for All
New Business Award sponsored by Carter-Zub Building Consultancy
Sales Geek
Young Lancastrian of the Year Award sponsored by True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners
Paul White, Wise Owl Creative
Young Professional Award sponsored by Begbies Traynor
Magdalene Lawson, ICS Accounting
The Sub36 Award sponsored by Lancashire Business View
Laura Taynton, Leonard Dews