Last week, we welcomed a new sponsor to Wigan Business Awards 2026.
McGinty Demack Limited is sponsoring the Professional Services Business of the Year Award, after winning the category last year.
That is the kind of full circle moment we love, because it shows what this campaign can build.
Sponsors do not renew by accident. They renew because they see value, trust, and community in action.
We now have 21 sponsors on board for 2026, from bag sponsors right through to our Platinum Headline Sponsor.
Winners Who Return as Sponsors
It is not just long-term sponsors who come back. Seeing winners return to support the same category they once entered matters.
It is the strongest kind of endorsement.
They know what the experience feels like from the inside.
Our latest winner turned sponsor is a perfect example.
They know what it feels like to win, and they want to support others too, paying it forward in a very real way.
We have seen this before, and we love it every time.
In 2024, Chris Smith from CSC2 entered Freelancer of the Year and won.
In 2025, he returned as sponsor of the same category.
Then in 2026, Chris accepted a career opportunity he could not turn down. Although he stepped away from CSC2, he stayed part of us.
At Wigan Business Expo 2026, Chris volunteered to man our stand. He wanted to share his experience with anyone who asked.
He spoke about what winning gave him, and what sponsoring meant to him too. That says everything about the community this campaign creates.
Far from just a sponsorship deal or an awards night. It has become a family, where people show up for each other..
Sponsors Who Have Backed Us From Day One
When we launched the awards in January 2024, some of our sponsors backed us from the very beginning.
Many of them are now heading into a third year, which is something we feel genuinely proud of.
Vanliners have been our Platinum Headline Sponsor since year one, and their support has helped shape this campaign from the ground up.
We have also had continued support from brilliant local and regional businesses, including DASCO Construction, ASH Integrated Services, Plan It ESG, Benchmark IT, and Aspire Accounts.
Varty’s Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons have supported the campaign too, alongside Metro Rod, Wigan Council, and 365 People Support. We have also welcomed ongoing support from GHE Fire and Electrical, WN Security Services, and Ntertain, with many more returning after supporting us in 2025.
We do not take that loyalty lightly. It is earned, not assumed.
A Campaign People Can Trust
Awards can get a bad name, and we understand why. People worry about politics, favouritism, and pay to play, which is exactly why we built Wigan Business Awards to be the opposite.
Our judging is independent and criteria-based, and sponsors do not pick winners.
We bring in a large panel of judges to keep it fair. We had 54 judges in 2024 and 60 judges in 2025. We stay transparent because fairness is crucial to the integrity of this campaign.
When sponsors renew, they are backing that integrity as well as the businesses of Wigan and Leigh.
The Numbers Behind The Momentum
Last year’s campaign ran from 1st February 2025 to 31st January 2026, and the numbers show just how much it grew.
On Facebook, we reached 633.4K views across the year, which was a 222.83 percent increase from 2024. We also saw 17.9K content interactions, up 57.02 percent, and 28K page visits, up 57.69 percent.
Instagram saw similar momentum, with 131.7K views across the year, which was a 191.37 percent increase from 2024.
On LinkedIn, we recorded 59,799 impressions, which was an 84.39 percent increase from 2024. We also reached 25,456 members across the year, which was a 108.52 percent increase.
Those numbers matter for sponsors, because they reflect real visibility. They also matter for the local businesses we champion, because they show how far their stories can travel.
Why Sponsors Return
Sponsors get visibility, but more importantly, they get proximity to the right people.
Throughout the campaign, they meet finalists, judges, and other local decision makers , becoming part of a story people pay attention to.
This enables us to keep money circulating locally, we choose suppliers from Wigan and Leigh wherever possible.
When sponsors come back, it signals confidence and it proves the campaign delivers real value.
Words From Our Sponsors
“Sponsoring the awards feels like investing in our own community. You can see the pride, connections, and opportunities it creates for Wigan businesses.”
Vanliners
“Supporting Wigan Business Awards fits our values. It celebrates hard work, integrity, and the businesses keeping Wigan moving.”
WN Security Services
“We keep coming back because the awards are about people, not egos. It is a proper community campaign with real credibility.”
Metro Rod
Thank You
To every sponsor backing Wigan Business Awards 2026, thank you.
You help us keep this campaign fair, credible, and community-led, and you help us shine a light on businesses that deserve it.
If you want to sponsor this year, we would love to chat so we can help you find the right fit for your goals.
View our sponsor pack HERE.
