Everyone a winner!

Hundreds of MPs, councillors, dignitaries and business people from across East Lancashire descended on the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, for a glittering night of entertainment.

A champagne reception welcomed guests to the event before a more formal welcome from Lancashire Evening Telegraph editor Kevin Young.

Mr Young, who was a member of the judging panel which had the difficult task of selecting the eight prize winners, said the quality of this year's entries was absolutely fantastic.

He said: "There really are no losers in this competition. To get the standard of entries that we had, has been absolutely phenomenal."

A short intermission to allow guests to enjoy a specially-prepared three-course dinner was followed by an introduction to the night's compere. Dianne Oxberry, a familiar face to many TV viewers as BBC North West Tonight's weather presenter.

Before introducing the night's speaker, Dianne entertained the audience by talking of her experiences of the media world and working as a weather girl and said how pleased she was to be invited to such a prestigious event.

She also told the specially-assembled business audience: "We are here to celebrate successes and achievements - achievements which have really been noticed by your customers and that is what everyone in business is striving to achieve."

Ex-Burnley footballer and businessman Paul Fletcher took to the stage to entertain guests.

After playing more than 350 games for the Clarets, and with business ventures under his belt including chief executive at Huddersfield and overseeing the work on Bolton's Reebok football stadium and the new Wembley stadium, Paul told a number of humourous tales about his life as a footballer and businessman.

The evening then took a more serious turn with the presentation of the first of eight awards.

The first award of the night - New Business of the Year - was presented by Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson to Daisy Communications of Nelson.

The award was given to fledgling firms established since 2000 which have soared to commercial success.

Since it was set up in June 2001, following the deregulation of BT, Daisy Communications has expanded dramatically and now employs 85 staff in contract processing, telesales, customer services and installations.

Second award of the night was the Workforce Development Award which was given to Alert Security of Burnley, amid huge cheers from the floor. From a two-desk business operating from his parents' home, managing director Trevor Shanley has built up a team of 13 staff and demonstrated how the company is committed to the training and development of its employees.

The third award of the night -the Marketing Award - was handed to PDS.

The Nelson-based company specialises in precision engineering contracts for such blue-chip companies as Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GE and Westland Helicopters and has also earned a reputation for prototype engineering.

Larger-than-life chairman John Getty provided one of the most entertaining moments of the night when he unravelled an advert asking for a new member of staff as he collected his prestigious award.

The fourth award got one of the biggest cheers of the night.

Staff punched the air and screamed with delight as Althams Travel collected the customer service Award.

Loyal customers Keith and Carol Sledding - who nominated the company - were on hand to watch proudly as director Sandra McAllister collected the trophy.

The Deal of the Year Award went to Metflex Precision Mouldings who impressed judges with their management skills.

Phil Tempest and fellow director Lawrence Irving pulled off a management buy-in for Metflex Precision Mouldings in November and they haven't looked back since.

The award for Innovation and Design went to Ryder Systems who impressed judges with their ability to develop new products to stay ahead of the competition.

The company, which started life in a rented room in Burnley, now deals with some of the leading industry names in seven European countries and has plans to expand into new markets in Asia and North America.

The penultimate award of the evening - the Ambassadors' Awards - was given to Jim Fagan of Keytech Network Services.

The accolade celebrated Jim's work in promoting East Lancashire through his cutting-edge IT firm Keytech, based in a renovated chapel in the Ribble Valley.

A massive cheer was reserved for Inter Link Foods plc when it was named Company of the Year at the exciting final to East Lancashire's premier business event of the year.

Chief executive Alwin Thompson collected the award and cheque from Brenda Rudge, managing director of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Clearly overcome with delight at winning the award, Alwin said: "If we had won an award in London it would have been great, but to win it in Blackburn makes it more special."

The awards were sponsored by PM&M Chartered Accountants, the Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, East Lancashire Partnership and the University of Central Lancashire.

Craig Richard, corporate finance partner at PM&M, paid tribute to the awards night. Craig, who was also on the judging panel, said: "The awards night is a great night and something we were particularly keen to get involved in. This proves that the people of East Lancashire can put really good events together really well."

"The Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Awards are something we hope to get involved in in the future.

Derek Hall, from the Learning and Skills Council, also presented the Workforce Development Award on the night.

He said: "It is really good to be part of such a prestigious event and see so much achievement."

ROLL OF HONOUR

Company of the Year Winner: Inter Link Foods. Highly Commended: Shire Hotels, Hurstwood Group.

New Business of the Year Winner: Daisy Communications. Highly Commended: Holden Vale, Smiles on Faces.

Workforce Development Award Winner: Alert Security Systems. Highly Commended: North Lancs Training Group, PA Travel.

Marketing Award Winner: PDS Engineering. Highly Commended: Lamps and Lighting, Gibsons Gardening Machinery.

Customer Service Award Winner: Althams Travel. Highly Commended: Walkersteel, MNH Vehicle Contracts.

Deal of the Year Winner: Metflex Precision Mouldings. Highly Commended: ITFX, Farmhouse Fare.

Innovation and Design Award Winner: Ryder Systems. Highly Commended: Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings, Neales Waste Management.

Ambassadors' Award Winner: Jim Fagan, Keytech Management Services. Highly Commended: Nigel Perry, Medex Medical; Anthony Capstick, Instant Search.