Business Oscars welcome new award

WITH entries pouring in for the fourth Oldham business extravaganza, steering-group chairman Steve Kilroy has announced there will be an award in 2012 recognising a major contribution to business life in the borough.

Not since the inaugural One Oldham Business Awards dinner in 2009 has there been a category recognising a long-time commitment to the business welfare of Oldham.

Backed by the generosity of the Norman Stoller Foundation, the category will return in March, 2012, when Oldham’s business community gathers for the fourth successive year to celebrate the successes of the previous 12 months.

Mr Stoller, whose family founded the Seton Products business in Oldham which went on to become the global SSL brand, is a huge supporter of all things Oldham.

He returns on a regular basis, from his home in the Lake District, to attend all the major events on the Oldham calendar. A long-time supporter of the business awards, the former Lord Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester said: “The awards are a quite marvellous evening when all of Oldham comes together as one business community.

“I am delighted to be able to play a part and I look forward to seeing who will be recognised.”

Mr Kilroy added: “There is absolutely no doubt the business awards are now THE event for business in Oldham.

“Four years on, the enthusiasm to win a business ‘Oscar’ shows no sign of diminishing and it is a sign of the prestige of the awards and the evening that Mr Stoller and his foundation want to be involved.

“We are delighted to welcome this category to our evening. The competition, as in all the categories, will be fierce but that is a reflection of the outstanding quality of business and people in Oldham.”

The presentation dinner takes place on Friday, March 2, 2012, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and entry forms can be downloaded online from www.oldhambusinessawards.co.uk.