Judged by the best

The BIBAs prides itself on a rigorous judging process, ensuring our winners are truly the best. Our judges are some of the best business minds in Lancashire and they undergo a comprehensive training programme against an international judging framework. Our judging process is then made up of two steps to pick our winners

Application

All applications are eligibility checked to ensure they meet all the entry criteria of the BIBAs before they are benchmarked against a criteria created by our research from the world’s leading business awards. This will ensure those who progress to the next stage of judging are the leading lights of Lancashire’s business community.

Interview stage

All shortlisted applicants to the BIBAs will meet the judging panels in order to select the finalists. This face to face interview provides entrants with their first opportunity to demonstrate what sets their business apart from the competition.

Judges Sponsor

North End Events

Meet the judges

Adam Withenshaw
BAE
Judging: Apprentice Team of the Year
Helen Robinson
Destination Coaching
Judging: Apprentice Team of the Year
Mark Booker
Insights
Judging: Apprentice Team of the Year
Neil Horner
P34b
Judging: Apprentice Team of the Year
Paul Hannant
Lancashire Skills Hub
Judging: Apprentice Team of the Year
Amin Vepari
Judging: Business of the Year
Frank Bamber
Serconnect
Judging: Business of the Year
Mary Lowe
Vincent Solicitors
Judging: Business of the Year
Matthew Heaton
Handelsbanken
Judging: Business of the Year
Paul Nicolls
Barclays Bank
Judging: Business of the Year
Simon Turner
Freshfield
Judging: Business of the Year
Alison Malcolm
LCC
Judging: Community/Third Sector Business of the Year
Candice Lancaster
Preston City Council
Judging: Community/Third Sector Business of the Year
Helen McVey
Pendleside Hospice
Judging: Community/Third Sector Business of the Year
Jacob Knowles
Empine
Judging: Community/Third Sector Business of the Year
Lynn Kelly
St Catherines Hospice
Judging: Community/Third Sector Business of the Year
Steve Pye
Judging: Community/Third Sector Business of the Year
David Evans
Stone UK
Judging: Construction Business of the Year
Deb Murphy
FCSA
Judging: Construction Business of the Year
Joe Sullivan
Moore & Smalley
Judging: Construction Business of the Year
Rose Watkins
Centaur Training
Judging: Construction Business of the Year
Sheroze Nadeem
Forbes
Judging: Construction Business of the Year
Laura Weldon
Studio LWD
Judging: Digital & Marketing Business of the Year
Michael McVerry
Buzz Education
Judging: Digital & Marketing Business of the Year
Steve Gill
Forepoint
Judging: Digital & Marketing Business of the Year
Barry Fellows
Hays
Judging: Employer of the Year
Caroline Rayner
Knights PLC
Judging: Employer of the Year
Simon Nixon
Preston College
Judging: Employer of the Year
Jennifer Grabowski
OSG
Judging: Family Business of the Year
Mary Speakman
Code Galaxy
Judging: Family Business of the Year
Sarah Page
Plumbs
Judging: Family Business of the Year
Tom Smith
Brabners
Judging: Family Business of the Year
Champak Fakira
Orseal
Judging: Global Business of the Year
Crispian Knight
Melling Performance Springs
Judging: Global Business of the Year
Mark Ashton
Go International
Judging: Global Business of the Year
Mick Mayor
Team Leyland
Judging: Global Business of the Year
Richard Prosser
BAE Systems
Judging: Global Business of the Year
Darren Wolfe
InterSys Micronics
Judging: Innovative Business of the Year
Emma Bone
Serconnect
Judging: Innovative Business of the Year
Mianda Barker
East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
Judging: Innovative Business of the Year
Nicola Clayton
Blackburn College
Judging: Innovative Business of the Year
Steve Armistead
E Line UK and Our Yesterdays.com
Judging: Innovative Business of the Year
Lindsay Campbell
Campbell & Rowley
Judging: Leadership Team of the Year
Linzi Monks
Preston College
Judging: Leadership Team of the Year
Rachael O'Connor
TVSSCS
Judging: Leadership Team of the Year
Jamie Griffiths
Smooth Radio
Judging: Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year
Jo Ogle
Toggle Switch Consulting
Judging: Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year
Lyndsey Guest
ITSW Ltd. 
Judging: Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year
Sharon Jones
Samlesbury Hall
Judging: Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year
thesecretgardenglamping.uk
The Secret Garden Glamping
Judging: Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year
Celia Gaze
The Wellbeing Farm
Judging: Low Carbon Business of the Year
Darren Wright
Active Lancashire
Judging: Low Carbon Business of the Year
Jonathan Smith
TNP
Judging: Low Carbon Business of the Year
Richard Lander
Sustainable Energy First
Judging: Low Carbon Business of the Year
Stephen Sykes
Chamber Low Carbon
Judging: Low Carbon Business of the Year
Andrew Halpin
Forbes
Judging: Manufacturer of the Year
Caroline Turley
FW Capital
Judging: Manufacturer of the Year
Lisa Ratican
West Lancashire District Council
Judging: Manufacturer of the Year
Sophie Bell Carr
Herbert Parkinson, part of the John Lewis Partnership
Judging: Manufacturer of the Year
Jane Fillis
Harrison Drury
Judging: Medium Business of the Year
Jon Pinder
Moore & Smalley
Judging: Medium Business of the Year
Lisa Kennery
Pierce
Judging: Medium Business of the Year
Mark Cheetham
Enterprise Answers
Judging: Medium Business of the Year
Tim Ogle
Toggle Switch Consulting
Judging: Medium Business of the Year
Daniel Barry
North Star Projects
Judging: Micro Business of the Year
Mark Preston
SEO Trainer
Judging: Micro Business of the Year
Natalie Christopher
Lancashire & NW Mag
Judging: Micro Business of the Year
Richard Cheetham
CKS
Judging: Micro Business of the Year
Adrian Gallagher
ISLS Group
Judging: New Business of the Year
Darshna Patel
Lancashire County Council
Judging: New Business of the Year
Helen Clarke
Bright Red Media
Judging: New Business of the Year
Antony Marsh
Hoofcount
Judging: Scale Up Business of the Year
Gina Mcloughney
Burton Recruitment
Judging: Scale Up Business of the Year
John Woodruffe
Turnkey
Judging: Scale Up Business of the Year
Nick Hodgson
Forbes
Judging: Scale Up Business of the Year
Azeem Khan
Gemini Group
Judging: Service Business of the Year
Kevan Reid
NWCS
Judging: Service Business of the Year
Victoria Pittman
Granby Marketing
Judging: Service Business of the Year
Danny Smedley
Places for People
Judging: Skills Provider of the Year
Kelly Ward
Fox's, Burtons Companies
Judging: Skills Provider of the Year
Lauren Capstick
Lancashire Skills Hub
Judging: Skills Provider of the Year
Christine Fare
Fare Max Pro
Judging: Small Business of the Year
Dawn Cheetham
CKS
Judging: Small Business of the Year
Debra Blackman
VieEssetially
Judging: Small Business of the Year
Jayne Raven
True Bearing/Amber River
Judging: Small Business of the Year
Jo Yates
Metrorod
Judging: Small Business of the Year