2026 Award Categories & Sponsors
We are very grateful to our Sponsors, whose support allows us to deliver the awards administration and ceremony, year on year. There are plenty of sponsored categories for all businesses to enter, whichever business you’re in, whatever size you are, and whether you have physical premises, or not.
Please scroll down to view our Award Categories and Sponsors for 2026. We have various ways to be part of RVBA including sponsoring the available categories below. Please click here to view more details and costings of our Sponsorship Opportunities.
NB! If you wish to pledge sponsorship for a particular category if it should come available for 2027 please get in touch with us.
Beacon Award
The Beacon Award winner will be a local business that is, in the opinion of the judging panel, the best entry across all categories. The winning business will be a beacon of inspiration.
Sponsored by lovelocalsolutions
Creative Business
The winner of this award will be the most creative Ribble Valley business nominated this year. Open to all businesses of any size, where creativity and/or creative skills are central to the business.
Sponsored by Love to Brand
Customer Friendly Business
The winner of this award will be the most customer friendly Ribble Valley business nominated this year. We will only accept nominations from customers of the business for this award. Open to all businesses which started trading before 1 September 2024.
Sponsored by Ribble Valley Borough Council
Family Business
The winner of this award will be the best family business in Ribble Valley nominated this year. Open to all family owned businesses, where two or more family members currently work within the business, and more than one generation contributes (or has previously contributed) to the success of the business.
Sponsored by Clavell-Bate & Nephew Dental Practice
Food & Drink
The winner of this award will be the best food and/or drink-based business in Ribble Valley nominated this year. Open to all business who either produce food or drink, or retail / serve food or drink to be consumed off-premises only.
Sponsored by Mantle Packaging Machinery Ltd
Health & Wellbeing Business
The winner of this award will be the best health, beauty or wellbeing based business in Ribble Valley nominated this year. Open to all businesses in the health, beauty and wellbeing sectors.
Sponsored by Sarah Lynas Coaching
Hospitality Business
The winner of this award will be the best hospitality business in Ribble Valley nominated this year. Open to all businesses who serve drinks and/or food to be consumed on-site.
Sponsored by PM+M Solutions for Business LLP
Independent Retailer
The winner of this award will be the best independent retailer nominated this year. Open to all businesses who operate traditional retail outlet(s) or sell directly to the consumer online, or via direct mail, farmers markets, etc.
Sponsored by FS Accountants
Large Business
The winner of this award will be the most successful and sustainable Ribble Valley based large business nominated this year. Open to businesses with a turnover of £1m or over.
Sponsored by Forbes Solicitors
Made in Ribble Valley
The winner of this award will be the best product or service which has been manufactured or exclusively created and Made in the Ribble Valley. Open to all businesses regardless of time they have traded.
Sponsored by Bowland Wild Boar Animal Park
Medium Business
The winner of this award will be the most successful and sustainable medium Ribble Valley business nominated this year. Open to businesses with a turnover of between £250k to £1m.
Sponsored by WHN Solicitors
Micro Business
The winner of this award will be the most successful and sustainable Ribble Valley based microbusiness nominated this year. Open to businesses with 2 to 5 employees and a turnover of less than £75k.
Sponsored by Artisan Escapes
New Business
The winner of this award will be a new Ribble Valley based business that has been the most successful start-up. Open to new businesses which started trading on or after 1 September 2024.
Sponsored by Evans Accountants
Not For Profit
The winner of this award will be a nominated Ribble Valley based not for profit business or social enterprise that has, in the opinion of the judging panel, implemented and used innovative practices and approaches to meet community and public service objectives in the last year.
Available for Sponsorship
Small Business
The winner of this award will be the most successful and sustainable Ribble Valley based small business nominated this year. Open to businesses with employees and a turnover of £75k to £249k.
Sponsored by Harrison Drury Solicitors
Social Media Champion
The winner of this award will be the Ribble Valley business that is making the best use of social media to create awareness and attract customers, and engage with their followers.
Sponsored by Vital Heating Solutions
Sole Trader
The winner of this award will be the most successful and sustainable Ribble Valley business with only 1 person in the business (the owner) nominated this year.
Sponsored by Fern Court Business Centre
Tourism Business
The winner of this award will be the best Ribble Valley based attraction, experience, accommodation provider, event or business associated with the tourism or leisure sector nominated this year.
Available for Sponsorship
Workforce Development
The winner of this award will be the Ribble Valley organisation that has best demonstrated a commitment to developing their workforce.
Sponsored by Nelson & Colne College Group
Thank you to our Award & Ceremony Sponsors
We are very grateful to our Sponsors, whose support allows us to deliver the awards administration and ceremony, year on year. Meet our 2026 sponsors below. Our Headline Sponsor for 2026 is NORI HR & Employment Law.
View all our exclusive Sponsorship Opportunities by clicking here.
The awards are run by the lovelocalsolutions group with the support of many volunteers and organisations across the borough. If you'd like to help celebrate our wonderful Ribble Valley Businesses, do take a look at how you can get involved via the link above.
