The ceremony followed a lavish four-course dinner rooted in Lancashire produce and prepared by long-standing BIBAs suppliers Campbell & Rowley. Guest presenter Coleen Nolan brought warmth and sparkle to proceedings, welcoming guests before the award presenters began the task of revealing this year’ s stand-out names.
Among the night’ s biggest stories was a remarkable hat-trick for Chorley-based Group 55. The company claimed the headline title of Business of the Year, adding to earlier wins in the Medium Business and Scale Up categories.
Tom Smith, partner at Brabners LLP, sponsors of the Scale Up Business of the Year, said:
“ This year’ s BIBAs reinforced the strength and depth of the businesses we have here in Lancashire.
“ The standard throughout the Scale-Up Business of the Year category was exceptionally high. Every shortlisted business had its own approach to growth.
“ Huge congratulations to Group55, which was named Scale-Up Business of the Year 2026, and to every business that made the shortlist.
“ If there was one overriding lesson from the process, it is that successful scaling is about building the right foundations, making brave decisions at the right time, investing in people and maintaining a clear sense of where the business is going.”
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