Kelmore Scoops Manufacturer of the Year Award Less Than Three Years Into Trading

Chorley, Lancashire – 29 September 2026 – Chorley-based manufacturer Kelmore has been named Manufacturer of the Year at the prestigious Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs) 2026, less than three years into becoming operational.

The manufacturer of high-performance products for the tiling and flooring industries was announced as the winner at the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s BIBAs 2026 ceremony on Friday 18 September, following a competitive judging process that saw Kelmore shortlisted alongside some of Lancashire’s most established manufacturing businesses.

The award followed three stages of judging, beginning with a detailed written submission followed by an interview with the judging panel, before the judges then visited Kelmore’s Chorley site to see the business in operation first-hand.

During the site visit, the panel toured the manufacturing facility, gaining an insight into Kelmore’s production, investment and product development, while also speaking directly with members of the team about their roles and experiences within the business.

The BIBAs judging panel said: “Manufacturing remains one of Lancashire’s greatest strengths, and this company represents the very best of the sector. Through investment, innovation and a relentless focus on quality, it has achieved outstanding growth whilst developing products that meet the demands of modern markets.”

Kelmore Founder and Managing Director, Mark Kelly, said the award was a reflection of the people behind the company, and commented: “This award is down to the team. Every person at Kelmore plays a part in our success, and their hard work, care and attention to detail is what has brought us to this point.

“Winning New Business of the Year at the BIBAs last year was a huge honour, so to return 12 months later and be named Manufacturer of the Year is a fantastic achievement. To do that after just two and a half years of trading, against some of Lancashire’s most respected manufacturers, makes it even more special.

“We’ve accomplished a huge amount in a short space of time and this award recognises the strength of our manufacturing operation, the investment and innovation behind it and, most importantly, the people who have helped build the business and drive it forward. I’m incredibly proud of this, and hugely grateful to our customers and suppliers for their continued support.

“I’d like to thank the judges who took the time to understand our business and meet our people, and for their fantastic feedback.”

Since entering the market in early 2024, Kelmore has rapidly established itself as a growing force within the tiling and flooring sector, gaining the trust and support of customers and end-users while continuing to grow its market share. The company operates from a 50,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Chorley, supported by a team of 80 people.

The company was also shortlisted in the Scale-Up category on the night amongst some of the county’s biggest businesses.

This latest BIBAs success adds to a growing list of industry recognition since its launch, including the BIBAs New Business of the Year award in 2025 and Manufacturing Start-Up of the Year at the Made in the North West and Made in the UK Awards.