Gold Medal Travel Group, which is based on Preston docklands, with its Employer of the Year trophy at the Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs

The chairman of one of Preston’s most popular family-run businesses has been offered a lifetime achievement award at the Be Inspired Business Awards.

The Lancastrian of the Year award is the highest honour to be celebrated and was presented to Ian Hall who heads James Hall And Son, the company behind the Spar retail stores across the North West.

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The company’s Deputy Managing Director and Ian Hall’s son Dominic accepted the award on his behalf.

The event was held at Blackpool Tower on Friday September 11 where the sold-out crowd were entertained by musicians, The Overtones.

Group 55, who manufactures and supplies animal products also picked up an award for MicroBusiness of the Year and the Gold Medal Travel Group won the Employer of the Year prize.

The North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce who host the BIBA’s said it would put at least £20,000 of profits generated by the awards into the BIBA Foundation which was set up to support enterprise projects across the country.

Adam Armstrong, of sponsor Saatchi and Saatchi, said, “As part of the judging panel for the Business of the Year category, I can honestly say that the calibre of businesses shortlisted for this year’s BIBAs was astonishingly high.”

“Many of the firms shortlisted in my category would have been a worthy winner and I believe that was the same story in the other categories.

“Lancashire should be proud to have such a collection of creative, hard-working and inspirational businesses behind its economy, and I congratulate every finalist at this year’s BIBAs for their achievements.”