The Freshies Charity Business Awards 2025 sponsored by the Forest Group was a roaring success!
18 inspiring businesses and businesspeople from across the North West were crowned the winners
at this years ‘Freshies Awards 2025’ run by Chorley-based recruitment business, Fresh Perspective
Resourcing, in an awe inspiring event that was held at Rivington Barn, where over 350 people
attended.
The Freshies are the awards that give back, a not-for-profit awards celebration created in 2020 and
designed to inspire and bring together the local community, brilliant businesses and the fantastic
folk that reside in the North West UK.
In close collaboration with CDS Events and Creative individuals, for the fifth-year running it was an
awards event with a twist to celebrate and recognise businesses in categories that the more
traditional awards just don’t cover. With hosts Vicky Taylor and Tony Greenwood returning to do the
honours alongside Laura Leyland & Emily Leyland, the awards retained its more informal event
format with an original take on food, Laura Mac singing, with the Saxobeats and DJ for
entertainment.
Having been nominated for one of the sought after ‘Freshies’ businesses took to social media to ask
for votes and then battled it out on Zoom interviews with the joyful judges in attempt to bag a win –
the 18 winners fought off intense competition from successful entrepreneurs across the region to
prevail:
- Triumphant Trailblazer – Emma Weston Illustration
- Marketing Magnifico – Bethany Potts (Harrison Drury)
- Most Treasured Team – East Lancashire Hospice
- Positivity Pioneer – Sarah Arthur (HAPPA)
- Captain Kindness – Stuart Lee (Let’s MAD)
- HR Hero – Amy Burrow (Strongdor)
- Wellbeing Warrior – Mini Minds Matter
- Nifty Networker – Lucy McKinley (Site Surveying Services)
- Best Business – Root Fifty-Two
- Brilliant Boss – Michael Lambert (Media Village)
- Charity Champion – The Cancer Bank
- Customer Service Sensation – Flourish Finance
- Notorious Newcomer – SIS Strength in Struggles
- Exceptional Employee – Marisa Bannan (East Lancs Hospice)
- Hospitality Hotshot – The Royal Dyche
- Sustainability Superstar – Only the Good Stuff
- Fantastic Family – A Dixon Autos
- Shining Star – Jenny Cook (NRG Riverside)
Laura Leyland, MD of Fresh Perspective Resourcing said: “What an absolutely amazing night, filled
with so much joy and celebration, exactly what we set out to achieve when we created The Freshies.
The number of nominations and votes this year was in the thousands, more than doubling the
interest from last year. It’s one of my favourite moments of the year announcing our winners and
then watching everyone have a fabulous night on the dancefloor!”
More than 350 guests turned out in force to celebrate another Freshies ceremony which was a not-
for-profit event, raising money for five charities close to the heart of the Fresh Perspective team of
which will now receive a share of the £28,682 which was raised through ticket sales, sponsorship
from the business community and a raffle on the night, with prizes donated from people across the
North West – beating the previous year total of £20,107.
Emily added: “We’re so grateful to have had so much support for our fifth Freshies Awards and want
to thank everyone who entered, attended and generously sponsored. The Freshies is a truly fantastic
event celebrating the incredible success stories seen across the North West. The awards highlight
the dedication that everyone has for their business and whether you were a finalist or a winner, you
should be proud of your achievements.”
Some of our wonderful event sponsors were our Headline sponsor The Forest Group, Ryall Group
(welcome drinks) Vision Techniques (AV & tech), DTM (table plan), StopPress (print & design)
Equestrian Surfaces (Trophies) and Blue Rock IT (Photography).