Thrilled, ecstatic, delighted, overjoyed, elated, rapturous, jubilant, over the moon, on cloud nine and proud. Just a small number of the many ways we could describe how amazing it feels to be announced as the winners of Small Business of the Year award at the BIBAs (Be Inspired Business Awards) on Friday 16th September.
After a gruelling application and judging process, which really put us through our paces, and waiting for a number of months between judges visits and the awards ceremony, we were more than ready to put on our glad rags, let our hair down and enjoy the celebrations of the occasion. Regardless of whether we received an award, we were excited to be attending the prestigious event. (Obviously, getting an award was the aim, but it’s not all about the winning and all that jazz!)
After all the anticipation, and with the team dressed in all their finery, enjoying fizz and fine food in the surroundings of the glitz and glamour of the infamous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the only thing left to do was to await the announcements of the THREE awards for which we were shortlisted.
Award after award came and went and the excitement and hope within the FL camp were beginning to wane, until the penultimate award was being announced; the award for Small Business of the Year. When we were declared the winners of this awesome accolade, we were dumbfounded, standing in utter, stunned shock until reality hit and we began to celebrate our fantastic achievement and made our way to the stage to collect our hard-earned reward.
We couldn’t possibly be prouder of what we have achieved; showing that the sheer determination and hard work of a small, but truly dedicated, workforce can be recognised and rewarded with great success. Now to put this award to work, living up to the standards we have set for ourselves, and looking towards the future for our next goal.
In the style of an Oscars’ acceptance speech, we’d like to thank our sponsors, HSBC, as it really wouldn’t have been possible to achieve this without their support. Also, we’d like to thank the BIBAs Foundation, managed by the Community Foundation for Lancashire, for giving us this amazing opportunity.
Below are a few of the photos taken on the night, enjoy!
