Meet our Wigan Borough Business Awards Ambassadors -proudly supporting our 2026 awards programme
Our Wigan Borough Business Awards Ambassadors are a carefully selected group of respected business leaders, innovators and advocates who play a key role in supporting and championing the awards throughout the year. Drawn from a wide range of sectors, they reflect the diversity, strength and ambition of the Wigan Borough business community.
Each Ambassador brings professional credibility, experience and a genuine commitment to supporting local businesses and organisations. United by shared values, they act as trusted voices for the awards, helping to raise awareness, encourage meaningful participation and reinforce what the Wigan Borough Business Awards stand for, genuine contribution, professional excellence and positive impact across the borough.
Beyond the awards evening, Ambassadors support wider recognition initiatives, share opportunities through their networks and help highlight the achievements of businesses and individuals across Wigan and Leigh. Being selected as an Ambassador is a mark of trust and respect, and we are proud to have these local business leaders supporting our prestigious and credible celebration of business excellence across Wigan Borough.
ian walker - group ceo & founder at 3pl
Ian Walker is the founder and CEO of 3P Logistics (3PL), where he leads the company’s vision and long-term strategy. His role centres on driving growth, shaping lasting partnerships, and guiding the senior team to keep 3PL at the forefront of fulfilment and logistics solutions.
Away from the boardroom, Ian is a lifelong football fan and 3pm on a Saturday is sacred, as he never misses a chance to cheer on his beloved Wigan Athletic through the good times and the bad times.
Neil Marshall - business development manager at stephensons solicitors llp
Neil Marshall joined the national law firm Stephensons in 2016 as Business Development Manager after more than 30 years in commercial banking with NatWest/RBS. During his career, he supported businesses across commercial and corporate markets, gaining expertise in areas such as commercial mortgages, asset-based lending, trade finance, and restructuring.
At Stephensons, Neil applies this experience to deliver seamless, cost-effective solutions for clients in the financial sector. Recently, following an introduction from a colleague, Neil worked closely with a local business to resolve employment and property issues and facilitated a six-figure business loan through his network, stabilising operations and supporting strategic growth.
Holding the ACIB qualification since 1994, Neil continues to leverage his extensive network of advisers, brokers, and specialist funders to assist businesses of all sizes. His commitment to building strong relationships and driving growth makes him a valued figure within the Wigan business community.
Neil Whittingham - Partner at cowgills, part of the sumer group
Partner with 24 years experience in accountancy, tax, audit and business advisory services at Cowgills, Wigan.
At Cowgills, part of the Sumer group you get local relationship-led service with the expertise of the 12th largest accountancy firm in the UK. We pride ourselves on a partner-led relationship service, offering a full suite of accountancy services. We will help you set up your new business, develop and grow your existing business and provide in depth business knowledge and experience in order to help you to achieve your goals.
We have a wide range of small and medium sized clients in and around the Wigan area and across the North West of England, along with others across the UK more generally.
Specialties: Special projects are our speciality involving producing business plans, cashflow forecasts, business strategies and management accounts in addition to helping you with day to day queries.
Caroline Rooks - Managing Partner at McCarthy Bennett Holland Solicitors LLP T/A MBH Solicitors
Founded in 1971, MBH Solicitors has grown from a small, determined firm into a respected and enduring presence in the legal profession. Built on decades of experience, integrity, and client trust, the practice is proudly led by Gillian Lavelle & Caroline Rooks whose expertise and leadership continue to shape its direction. With a strong commitment to professionalism, empathy, and excellence, the firm blends tradition with a modern approach, serving generations of clients while remaining firmly rooted in the values on which it was established.
MBH Solicitors are able to advise and assist you within the following areas of law:
- Family (including Divorce, Children, Cohabitation),
- Wills & Probate,
- LPAs,
- Court of Protection,
- Contentious Probate (Inheritance / Will Disputes)
- Debt Recovery,
- Personal Injury,
- General Litigation,
- Residential Conveyancing,
- Commercial Property,
- Landlord & Tenant,
- Employment
MBH offers various ways to meet payment of your legal fees including fixed fees, pay at the end and pay as you go arrangements. Their family & private client teams offer 30minutes free appointments.
MBH aims to provide outstanding & quality legal services to all clients; both private individuals and businesses. The business exists to help their clients achieve their goals whether it be buying a new home, spending time with their children or preparing a will to protect their loved ones. MBH is with you every step of the way to provide legal support for your life’s journey.
Get in touch with the team today on 01942 206060 or by e-mail: mbh@wigansolicitors.com
gillian lavelle- Managing Partner at McCarthy Bennett Holland Solicitors LLP T/A MBH Solicitors
Founded in 1971, MBH Solicitors has grown from a small, determined firm into a respected and enduring presence in the legal profession. Built on decades of experience, integrity, and client trust, the practice is proudly led by Gillian Lavelle & Caroline Rooks whose expertise and leadership continue to shape its direction. With a strong commitment to professionalism, empathy, and excellence, the firm blends tradition with a modern approach, serving generations of clients while remaining firmly rooted in the values on which it was established.
MBH Solicitors are able to advise and assist you within the following areas of law:
- Family (including Divorce, Children, Cohabitation),
- Wills & Probate,
- LPAs,
- Court of Protection,
- Contentious Probate (Inheritance / Will Disputes)
- Debt Recovery,
- Personal Injury,
- General Litigation,
- Residential Conveyancing,
- Commercial Property,
- Landlord & Tenant,
- Employment
MBH offers various ways to meet payment of your legal fees including fixed fees, pay at the end and pay as you go arrangements. Their family & private client teams offer 30minutes free appointments.
MBH aims to provide outstanding & quality legal services to all clients; both private individuals and businesses. The business exists to help their clients achieve their goals whether it be buying a new home, spending time with their children or preparing a will to protect their loved ones. MBH is with you every step of the way to provide legal support for your life’s journey.
Get in touch with the team today on 01942 206060 or by e-mail: mbh@wigansolicitors.com
Rachel RamsAy - cemap, bsc, cbi, pma - director
Ramsay Financial Ltd is a mortgage and protection brokerage based in Wigan and Chorley. Specialising in First Time Buyer, Remortgage, Purchase, 2nd Charge lending, Adverse/Poor Credit, Buy to Let (individuals or limited company), HMO and MUFB, bridging, general insurance and protection.
Offering a ‘One-Stop’ holistic service, we can also take care of the conveyancing via our trusted panel and have a strong network of local and experienced Financial Advisers on hand to discuss your wider Financial Planning needs such as equity release, commercial lending, commercial insurance, pensions and investments and estate planning.
neamh grierson - director & founder, Assured health & protection
Neamh (pronounced Neave,) provides impartial, expert advice as an independent, whole of market employee benefits & insurance broker. This ensures you always have access to the most suitable health and protection policies for your requirements such as private medical insurance or Death in Service policies.
Most of the providers Neamh works with will even include a free virtual gp service, 24/7, 365 days a year.
With a wealth of industry knowledge since 2007, Neamh launched Assured Health and Protection Limited in March 2020 to fill the huge gap in the market for FCA regulated, client focused, bespoke, personalised services.
Neamh is also very active in the community having spent time as part of the FubHub fundraising team and supporting and fundraising for Daffodils Dreams, The Brick, Wigan Youth Zone and Wigan and Leigh Hospice.
Neamh would love to talk to you about your requirements, with a free of charge review.
Kara rose - director & founder, krpr
With over 25 years in the PR industry, Kara Rose launched her own agency, KRPR, in 2007 and operate throughout the UK on high profile, local and national clients and well-known brands. An award-winning agency, KRPR works with businesses across both B2C and B2B sectors as well as being experts in crisis PR.
Kara has proudly led PR campaigns that have gone on to win many industry specific awards for their clients and PR awards for creative campaigns that have made a real difference to the bottom line. Kara herself was also proud to receive the CEO’s award at the Downtown Women in Business Awards.
Kara has sat on the judging panel of many esteemed business awards as well as running awards for clients and was honoured to be one of the hand-picked judges on the In augural Wigan Borough Business Awards in 2024, and now returns as an Ambassador for 2026.
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anthony baldwin - stakeholder account manager, GM Business Growth Hub
I’m Anthony Baldwin, a Stakeholder Account Manager with the GM Business Growth Hub, working at a strategic level with senior partners, businesses and the public sector to support sustainable economic growth across Wigan Borough.
steve smith - business and entrepreneur advisor, inventya ltd
Steve is a highly experienced commercial leader with a global ‘blue chip’ background, but very ‘down to earth’ approach.
A University of Sheffield graduate in Business Studies, he started his sales and marketing career at Procter and Gamble. After a decade managing household, health, beauty and cosmetics brands Steve moved to Kellogg’s setting up the customer marketing function before assignments as marketing manager and sales controller. A long stint followed as sales director for AG Barr plc, makers of Scotland’s other national drink IRN-BRU, taking the business from £125m sales revenue to £300m and leading a team of over 400. He built his experience in strategy & business planning, team leadership, P & L management, consumer brand development and trade marketing.
With the desire to take on a new challenge, Steve invested in a Business Doctors franchise sharing his knowledge and experience to make a big difference to SMEs in the Wigan and surrounding areas, helping them address their opportunities and overcome the challenges they face. Steve is a well known face in the Wigan business ecosystem which he always describes as a most welcoming and warm environment.
In addition he represented Inventya as a Business & Entrepreneur Advisor with a specific focus on delivering Wigan Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund business support projects and is now also an Innovation & Growth Specialist operating under Innovate UK.
In 2021 Steve released his first business book ‘Baked Alaska’ – an honest summary of his career to date and passion to provide quality business advice in ‘bog standard English’. He is passionate about helping local business utilise his own experiences, captured in his motto – Who Shares Grows.
In his spare time, Steve enjoys reading history books, is a keen runner, enjoys watching football, rugby and cricket and is currently studying CMI Level7 Strategic Management & Leadership with Edge Hill University.
tracy wright - nationwide area director, north west area
john heaton - uk property investment specialist and owner of the heaton group
John Heaton is the Managing Director of The Heaton Group and Cotton Works, and a leading figure in Wigan Borough’s regeneration and housing sector. A proud Wiganer, John comes from a family with decades of experience in property, dating back to the 1950s when his great grandfather first invested in local housing.
After running his own textile business, John formally established The Heaton Group in 2008 with his brother Adam, focusing on property development full-time.
A major focus of John’s work today is the continued regeneration of Wigan, most notably through the Cotton Works at the old Eckersley Mill site. This landmark project blends heritage with modern living, workspace and hospitality venues, creating a new destination that celebrates Wigan’s identity while supporting its future growth.
John is passionate about investing in his hometown, creating jobs, restoring historic buildings and building places where people can eat, drink, work and live. His vision for Cotton Works reflects a long-term commitment to Wigan’s prosperity and to ensuring the borough remains a place of pride and opportunity for generations to come.
Caeryn collins - founder of impressions uniform
I got into business quite accidently after taking redundancy from a senior role in public sector housing when my middle daughter was diagnosed with Autism, then after a chance conversation bought into my first Schoolwear business in 2010 with just 4 High Schools and 11 primary schools. Today Impressions has 3 branches covering 15 High Schools, 46 Primary schools and several nurseries and we also provide uniform to a school in Zimbabwe! It also now has its own print and embroidery department covering work and leisurewear. My daughter Katie has now taking over the running of the business.
My view is that the real magic happened when I put my own values on the business. I care about my customers and the team, I’m a bit of a tree hugger, believe in truth and justice and like to ensure that playing fields are as level as possible. So that is now reflected in all that Impressions does and has led to the creation of The Really Good Business – a coaching and consultancy service aimed at helping others grow their business and find a greater joy through purposeful business practice. As a qualified B Corp consultant we can support your business through the process, assist with carbon reduction and carbon literacy training and help you understand and calculate your social value.
I also run the RGB Rebels Club which is a Bi-monthly meeting in partnership with Wigan and Leigh College where we discuss some controversial off topical subjects, People Planet Pint which is a sustainability networking meet up and Pitch and Pie where community groups bid for support and mentoring from local businesses. I am now working to help create the new Infrastructure organisation to support the Voluntary/social economy/faith and charity sector. I also sit on the Wigan Business Consortium, Wigan Climate Coalition, Transform GM, supported the development of the Believe in Business Charter, and the Believe in Business festival.
Anne Hurcombe - Owner of Wigan pier promotions
Anne is the owner of Wigan Pier Promotions. Wigan Pier Promotions is a bespoke events and entertainment company with over 31 years of experience delivering unforgettable experiences across the UK. They work closely with each client to understand their vision and offer creative, practical solutions that bring events to life, whether large-scale or intimate.
At WPP, we pride ourselves on creativity, passion, and thinking outside the box. We’re always exploring new ideas, attending industry showcases, and discovering fresh talent so we can offer the very best to our clients—no matter your budget.
In 2025, we were proud to win the Immersive Event of the Year award—recognition for the part of the business we love and thrive in. Our founder also took part in two panels for International Women’s Day, sharing insights from a two-decade journey in business and inspiring the next generation at Wigan Youth Zone, where we’re proud to serve as a patron.
michelle charnock - professional photographer
I am a professional photographer based in the North West and I’m currently celebrating 20 years in the photographic industry. Last summer I decided to open a studio in my own name in my hometown of Wigan. I feel very lucky to be able to carry out something I’ve been passionate about from a very young age as a career, this I feel reflects in the images I produce, whether I’m capturing babies or the latest fashion trends.
My passion for the photographic image began as a child. I was obsessed constantly studying photo albums and family photographs wherever I went.
Creativity was always a big part of me art was a favourite subject at school and after studying ‘a’ level art at college I decided look into creating memories as a profession by studying BTEC photography and then progressing to a degree in Photographic Art in Newport.
After University I gained experience assisting some of the most successful photographers in Cardiff and carrying out various work as a printer/digital artist/photographer for a large independent professional lab, which also enabled me to speak to photographers on a daily basis gaining valuable knowledge of various areas of the industry.
A keen interest in Fashion Photography brought me back to the North West and to an online retailer shooting e-commerce and commercial shoots which resulted in images being featured in national magazines and at The Clothes Show Live.
After opting to go freelance in 2011, I was voted as one of the 10 of the best in the photography category for Manchester Fashion Network’s annual awards. I have since been carrying out freelance work for a number of companies from equestrian wear shoots to assessment days for model agencies, as well as working successfully on combined packages with a make up artist for portraits weddings and portfolio shoots.
Bradleigh Cregeen - Head of partnerships, wigan athletic
karen cox - shopping centre manager
Bio coming soon
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