LAW firm Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors has scooped the ‘legal services’ accolade at the Red Rose Awards, topping off record success over the past 12 months including a nine per cent increase in turnover.

To win the title, which was awarded at a ceremony at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, the firm had to demonstrate powerful top-line growth and strategic business development.

This included a rise in turnover of nine per cent in the last financial year — up to nearly £4.8m in 2017/2018 from £4.38m the year prior.

The latest achievement follows hard on the heels of senior director David McCann picking up the Businessman of the Year accolade at the Made in Bury Business Awards in November.

The full-service firm of solicitors employs 110 staff in seven offices across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Mr McCann said: “We’ve driven the ongoing development of our strategic plans across all teams, which has delivered significant growth in turnover and profits over the past year. We’re optimistic this growth will mean further expansion in the future.”

“As part of this process we’ve invested heavily in a new IT platform, brought gifted lawyers into our teams, and encouraged personal and professional development among our existing staff.”

The firm’s recent success has seen its corporate commercial team increase revenue by 270 per cent, while the commercial property team has also driven substantial growth in fees after continuing to secure work from major development firms and landlords.

Meanwhile, the commercial property dispute resolution team has generated significant expansion, and the high street side of the business has contributed to the success story with the growth of the family team and the appointment of Katharine Marshall to the International Child Abduction Panel.

David added: “Looking ahead, we’ll continue to expand our specialist teams while focusing on the development of each of our seven offices, led by the directors based at each location.

“After a deep dive into our culture we’ve realised that at the heart of our business is a desire to employ people who are not only fulfilled, but also proud to work for WHN. We recognise that profit is an output of getting our strategy right, so it is not profit that drives us, but rather the satisfaction of our clients and happiness of our staff.”

Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors was created following the merger of Woodcocks Solicitors and Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors in 2012.

The firm has a turnover of £5million and employs of 100 staff from offices across Greater Manchester and Lancashire in Accrington, Bacup, Bury, Blackburn, Haslingden, Great Harwood and Rawtenstall.

The firm advises businesses, individuals and families across the North across the full range of legal matters.