Business champs shine a beacon of hope in Covid crisis
THE winners of Hyndburn Business Awards saw stories of adaptability, resilience and determination shining through.
Although the final presentation ceremony had to be broadcast virtually, video footage filmed by Paul Coppack from Shooters Media, was broadcast via Facebook Live on November 17.
Rob Carder, from organisers Enterprising People, said: “On reading the entries organisers were extremely impressed by how businesses have coped with the totally unforeseen circumstances that Covid19 brought. We read how they worked together, never gave up and how they have come back stronger, learning from what happened.
“Normally the Beacon Award goes to the most inspirational business, but judges agreed that each and every entry and sponsor in this year’s awards deserves to win the highest award for the impressive way they have dealt with this year’s challenges.”
Although permitted to stay open, Accrington dry cleaning company Acorns of Lancashire, winner of the MicroBusiness category, closed for six weeks to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment and produce a series of relaunch videos.
The films were posted to the company’s social media to ensure customers understood the changes and felt confident to return.
Rishton’s Bevlan Office Interiors was able to help many local businesses stay operating by providing affordable protective screens, hygiene stations and office equipment for home workers.
During lockdown Customer Friendly Business winner Bright Beginnings childminders from Accrington, provided craft bags, pictures to colour and worksheets to those children they would normally have cared for; they also used the time to transform an allotment for the children.
Staff at Not for Profit Award winners Carers Link Lancashire, based in Accrington, postponed annual leave and worked extra hours so they could make more than 70 welfare calls every day to potentially vulnerable at-risk groups.
Charity Community Solutions North West won the Large Business and Workforce Development awards, and Deborah Clark won the Enterprising Woman title.
Having taken part in a pilot project a year ago to develop digital services for health innovation, the company was a step ahead when switching normal face-to-face interaction to online.
Investing in IT early, before the lockdown was announced, ensured Small Business winner Cover My Bubble, an insurance company from Oswaldtwistle, was fully prepared. To keep morale high, weekly team catch-ups were held and surprise gifts sent.
NORI HR and Employment Law Ltd took the confusion out of the everchanging Government announcements on job retention schemes and opened free advice lines. The company won the New Business title.
Sole Trader winner Accrington’s Sweet Reminiscing by Sharonrose expanded to provide a door delivery service while Independent Retailer winner Great Harwood’s The Lancashire Dog Company extended opening to sevendays-a-week and introduced personal 30-minute evening appointments.