The finalists in the prestigious Blackburn and Darwen Business Awards have been announced today, revealing the brightest and best in the region.

Judging took place by an independent panel on Wednesday 15th May, including a morning scoring session by judges followed by interviews with entrants for four specific award categories, the micro business, the small business, the medium business and the large business of the year.

Ian Brown, chair of the Hive Ambassadors Network, said: “We’ve had some great entries this year and some categories, in particular, were incredibly hard to judge. The scoring has been really close.

“The finalists should all be hugely proud of the work they’ve done and they really do show what amazing business talent we have in the Blackburn with Darwen area. They also are great examples of what our own Hive ethos is all about. Each finalist has not just worked to create a successful business they’ve also used that success to make a positive impact in the Blackburn with Darwen area, making it a better place to both live and work in.”

In addition to the shortlist announcement, Hive has also revealed a host of new sponsors for the awards this year, including Star Tissue and Eric Wright Group as category sponsors and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce as event supporter.

The awards this year also have Lancashare as a media partner and Parkinson Signs as an event partner.

The final winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony held at the stunning King George’s Hall, on the 27th June.

For more details and information or to buy tickets this year’s awards visit http://awards.business-hive.co.uk/.

Award’s finalists:

The Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Award

Clinicall Healthcare

Greenview Nursery

In Di Go Dedicated Care & Support CIC

Ribble Homecare

U Got This Mental Health & Wellbeing Clinic Blackburn

Unit-2 Fitness For Women

The Retail Business Award

Blackburn Festival of Light

Multevo

Rhodium Insurance

Tom Wood Artisan Butchers

The Environmental Business Award

Multevo

The Acme Facilities Group

The Bee Centre

The Creative and Digital Award

The winner of this category will be announced on the night.

The Manufacturing Excellence Award

H&T Industrial

Optimacs

Remexx

Tensar

The Family Business Award

EBP Building Products

Ewood Foods

Rosslee Construction

Stevenson Memorials

The Bee Centre

The Buzz Award

21 Digital

Balloons by Gifts@Ewood

Blackburn Festival of Light

Blackburn Youth Zone on behalf of Blackburn Beer Festival

Sales Geek

The Bee Centre

The Commitment to Blackburn and Darwen Award

AFC Darwen

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust

Blackburn Youth Zone

H&T Industrial

Nybble.co.uk

Secret Santa

The Acme Facilities Group

The Bureau Centre for the Arts

The Investing in Future Skills Award

Blackburn College

Blackburn Youth Zone and BAE Systems

Curtis Law Solicitors

EBP Building Products

Rosslee Construction

The Acme Facilities Group

WEC Group

The Growth Business Award

21Digital

Clinicall Healthcare

Gifts@Ewood

Sales Geek

The Bee Centre

The New Business Award (less than 3 years old)

Blackburn Cathedral - Cathedra Gin

Piemezzanae

Sales Geek

Your Home Property Services

The Hive Business School Award

The winner of this category will be announced on the night.

The HIVE Entrepreneur of the Year

Caroline Cox - Gifts@Ewood

Lisa Edge - Lancashare

Mohammed Gulzar - Rhodium Insurance

Richard Few - Sales Geek

Leanne Procter - Unit-2 Fitness For Women

The HIVE Rising Star Award (under 30 years old)

Jake Yates - KeyFleet

Adam Zinga - Pierce CA

Jonathan Finch - Sales Geek

HIVE Micro Business of the Year (10 or less full-time employees)

Build Assist

Clinicall Healthcare

Hands on Harmony Yoga Health & Wellness

Sales Geek

Stevenson Memorials

The Bee Centre

HIVE Small Business of the Year (11 - 25 full time employees)

21Digital

Alpha Digital Networks

Greenview Nursery

KeyFleet

Ribble Homecare

Stones Young

HIVE Medium Business of the Year (26 - 50 full time employees)

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust

Ewood Foods

H&T Industrial

HIVE Large Business of the Year (51+ full time employees)

Curtis Law Solicitors

Rosslee Construction

Tensar

The Arte Et Labore Award

This award recognises a long-term commitment by an individual to making Blackburn and Darwen a more prosperous borough and a better place to live, learn, work, visit and invest. This award will be announced on the night.

The Hive Chairman’s Award

The recipient of this award will be selected by the chairman of Hive and announced on the night.