Oldham Business Awards back for 2025

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 with a nomination/application and judging process that culminates in a glittering awards night on Friday, October 3, 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. 

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 said: “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.” 

More than 100 people attended a launch night hosted by Caroline Whitmore of ITV Granada Reports 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.” 

2025 sponsors so far:

® 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 winners of 2023’s Supporting Young People Award, who 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, winners of two categories last year, Supporting Young People and Workforce Health and Wellbeing, is sponsoring the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Associate sponsors are:

® Rowan Ashworth (entertainment)

® Thrive

 Partners are:

® Grains Bar Hotel, winners of last year’s Business of the Year up to £1m award, are sponsoring the finalists unveiling event on Thursday, 3 July.

® Oldham Athletic FC

® Cornerstone DM

® New image

Headline, Category and associate sponsorships are still available.

Richard Eastwood of Albion House Wealth Management added: “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.”