The Prestigious Oldham Business Awards (OBAS) are open for entries for 2025
The awards, now in their 17th year, recognise and reward business excellence, acumen and entrepreneurial spirit among Oldham businesses of all sizes and guises.
They also celebrate the community contribution made by local good causes, which saw £2,500 each donated to Mahdlo Youth Zone and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice thanks to the generosity of guests and sponsors at last year’s gala night – taking the charity fundraising total to more than £60,000 over the OBAs’ 16-year history.
The launch begins a nomination/application and judging process that culminates in a glittering awards night on Friday 3 October 2025.
Each year the OBAs steering group – a dedicated volunteer team drawn from a diverse range of locally based businesses, together with category sponsors, – have the challenging task of judging and selecting winners of 11 awards and the recipient of the Special Recognition Award.
‘A privilege and a pleasure to launch 2025 awards’
The 2025 awards remain under the stewardship of David Wadsworth, the Oldham born and bred MD and founder of Cornerstone Design and Marketing based in Lees.
Mr Wadsworth launched Cornerstone – OBA finalists in 2012, 2018 and 2019 – from the attic of his parents’ home in the same year the awards launched and now employs 35 people across all marketing disciplines.
He says: “Last year’s awards highlighted the depth and breadth of Oldham’s business community and it’s a privilege, and a pleasure, to begin the process all over again, so we can celebrate the best and most inspiring organisations and business individuals in the borough.
“Over the years, the Oldham Business Awards have seen thousands of outstanding businesses and people nominated and shortlisted, so with the support of our steering committee, I encourage all Oldham businesses, and everyone involved in them, to take an active part.
“Once again, we’re proud to be supporting two organisations which do great work and provide vital support services in our communities, Mahdlo Youth Zone and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, which will both benefit from donations once the event is concluded.”
‘Alone we go fast, but together we go far’
More than 100 people attended a launch night event held at Billington’s in Oldham, courtesy of Krzysztof Zemlik, who won the OBA special recognition award in 2023 for his sympathetic and sustainable restoration of the former dance academy on Ascroft Street.
The keynote speaker was former star of Rugby League and Union, Mike Ford, who shared his leadership insights after 30 years as a player, coach, and now managing director at Oldham RLFC.
As a player in League, he won 10 Great Britain caps, toured Down Under, and played for top clubs here and in Australia, including Wigan and Oldham (twice).
In Union, he was defence coach when Ireland won the Six Nations triple crown and he’s worked in key roles for Saracens, Bath, Toulon in France, Dallas Griffins in the USA, and Leicester Tigers.
After working in Ireland, he became England’s defence coach and was part of the coaching team that guided the team to the 2007 World Cup Final. He has also worked as defence coach for the British and Ireland Lions.
He praised the togetherness of the OBA community and cited a well-known coaching mantra: “Alone we go fast, but together we go far.”
Here’s Mike speaking to Nigel Wareing of Cornerstone DM…
Mick was joined in the spotlight by last year’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Callum Siddall of Chances Mentoring, who were winners of the start-up award in 2023.
Callum told us of the benefits of being a double winner at the OBAs…
‘There’s nothing to lose by entering – only good can come of it’
Andy Taylor, MD at Pegasus Warehousing and Fulfilment Ltd, winners of last year’s Business of the Year award in the £1m-£5m category, and a finalist the year before, says the importance of the OBAs to the borough’s business community cannot be overstated.
He adds: “We take the Oldham Business Awards very seriously – it’s a prestigious event that gets you good press and it’s a great opportunity to get your brand out there among the Oldham business network.
“We’re very proud to have won. It’s helped our business massively and we’ve secured a large contract with another Oldham business through getting involved in the awards, and we’re doing a lot of projects with them at the moment.
“I’d say to every business in the borough, there’s nothing to lose by entering, only good can come of it. Once you get into that circle of networking, as we have done, that’s when further opportunities arise.”
We caught up with Andy at the launch event.
2025 sponsors revealed
An opportunity to become a headline sponsor is currently available alongside:
- Albion House Wealth Management, a fervent OBA supporter.
- Oldham Council, a long-time OBAs supporter.
Category sponsors unveiled so far are:
- Pearson Legal, a long-time OBAs supporter and winner of 2023’s Supporting Young People Award; this year are sponsoring the award for the £5m-plus Business of the Year.
- Seftons, finalists in last year’s Workforce Health and Wellbeing Award – sponsoring £1-5m Business of the Year Award.
- Oldham Sixth Form College, Supporting Young People Award.
- Oldham Active, the borough’s leading leisure and wellbeing provider – Workforce Health and Wellbeing Award.
- Diodes Incorporated – last years winners of the Supporting Young People award and the Workforce Health and Wellbeing award – this year they are supporting the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Associate sponsors are:
- Rowan Ashworth (entertainment)
- Thrive
Partners of the Awards are:
- Oldham Athletic FC
- Cornerstone DM
- New image
- Grains Bar Hotel, winner of last year’s Business of the Year up to £1m Award, are sponsoring the finalists unveiling event on Thursday, 3rd July.
Headline, category, and associate sponsorships are still available
Richard Eastwood of Albion House Wealth Management Says: “The Oldham Business Awards is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business, don’t underestimate the value they create.”
“We work really hard making our businesses a success and the peers that you will meet through the awards, and the advice you can take on, is all really valuable.”
We caught up with Richard at the launch, who told us more about the benefits of being a sponsor and why companies should enter…
