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THE BIG 20 Pen pictures by Rob Kelly
IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
ARE YOU READY
FOR LANCASHIRE’S BIGGEST BUSINESS CELEBRATION?
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
19 JANUARY 2026 Awards ceremony:
Thursday 12 March 2026, Winter Gardens Blackpool
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#RRA26 THE BIGGER PICTURE
Welcome to the Big 20 – our new ranking of Lancashire’s biggest companies by sales and profit. Following on from our annual and much- anticipated Hot 100 table of the county’s most profitable SMEs, the Big 20 shifts the spotlight to the county’s larger companies.
Once again we turned to PM+M, who compile the Hot 100 for us. The result of the research carried out has revealed powerhouse businesses driving the county’s economy.
Collectively, the top 20 businesses generated more than £30bn in sales revenue.
Large multinational firms with their roots deeply embedded in the county are providing work for tens of thousands of people.
And lesser-known local enterprises on the list, with decades of doing businesses from their Lancashire bases under their belts, are delivering impressive profits.
The list also highlights the range of industries the Big 20 businesses operate in – from food production to logistics.
Dean Rodgers, accounts and advisory director at PM+M, who put together the list, says: “Lancashire combines global ambition with local strength. Large multinationals bring scale
and visibility, while homegrown firms deliver profitability and stability.”
There is one notable absence from the picture. We took the decision not to include BAE Systems in the list. A global business employing more than 11,000 people at its Samlesbury and Warton plants and with a deep supply chain in the county, its contribution to our economy is massive and well-recognised.
There is some less positive news coming from some of the businesses we have featured. EG Group has announced plans to relocate its headquarters in the US while Exertis is looking at major redundancies in Burnley.
However, the overall picture is positive. Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View, says: “Our annual Hot 100 list is widely recognised as giving a detailed picture of the health of Lancashire’s SME community.
“We wanted to dig a little deeper and look at the bigger companies and the impact they have. The Big 20 is our response to that consideration.
“As with the Hot 100, it highlights the range of Lancashire businesses, both in terms of their sectors and the markets they are hard at work delivering to. That diversity remains one of the county’s strong points.”
20 Silicone Engineering, Blackburn
Established in 1959, Silicone Engineering was one of the first companies to specialise in the manufacture and supply of silicone rubber for sealing, insulation and protection of applications in a wide range of industrial sectors. It is a leading supplier, serving industries worldwide. Its products are used across sectors including automotive, food, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
PROFIT
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