Race on for awards nominations

WITH the deadline for entries to the One Oldham Business Awards looming, Steve Lowe, from title sponsors NatWest, is urging the those still waiting to submit their applications to get a move on.

“Every year since we launched the awards we have seen an increase in nominations and we want to see more grow this year, too,” he said after a breakfast workshop for sponsors and judges.

Mr Lowe, relationship director at the bank, is concerned that the tight timescales for this year’s awards, which will be presented at the gala dinner on Friday, March 2, maybe inhibiting some potential nominees.

“Yes, the timescale for nominations is tight this year because the Queen Elizabeth Hall is busy and purdah, which involves the council elections, impacts on our preferred date of March 23.

“Some people may have been put off, or think they have longer than they really do, but there is still plenty of time to submit nominations — and the rewards for just reaching the finals are amazing,” he said. Deadline for nominations is Friday, February 3 and with the simplicity of online forms via www.oldhambusinessawards.co.uk Mr Lowe is hoping there is a last-week rush to beat last year’s record entry.

This week the steering group finalised entertainment for the evening with the Failsworth Band, which has thrilled audiences at the dinner, and at the Pride in Oldham prestigious in Oldham awards, for several years confirmed as pre-dinner entertainment.

Finalists, sponsors and VIP guests will be able to enjoy the superb entertainment provided by musical director Matthew Garlick’s musicians and singers while enjoying canapes and champagne.

There will also be a fun casino, sponsored by Alan Rothwell and his team at PandR Ltd., Oldham, prior to the dinner with every guest receiving a complementary token. Money raised by the casino will go to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

The person winning the most money prior to the awards will have use of a Porsche 911, provided by Roman Chouhdry, from Chadderton Autos, Franklyn Street, Oldham, for a long weekend.

During the dinner there will be first-class entertainment — which the organisers are keeping a secret.

“We are having a change to last couple of years,” was all that Mr Lowe would say.