BAKERY Bells of Lazonby were crowned outstanding Cumbria family business of the year on Friday at the first Cumbria Family Business Awards.

More than 200 Cumbria’s movers and shakers were in attendance at the event hosted by Cumbrian Hairy Biker Dave Myers.

The even was organised by three Cumbrian entrepreneurs - Sophia Newton of The Good News Girl, a Windermere-based PR and social media firm, Janett Walker of Make It Happen, an events and HR firm also based in Windermere, and Sue Coulson of Coulson Associates, a global outsourced provider of business development solutions based in Windermere, and founder of Cumbria Family Business Network.

The awards were set-up to recognise the contribution family businesses make to Cumbria, as family businesses represent over 80 per cent of businesses in the county. On a national level family businesses contribute 25 per cent of the UK’s GDP and employ nearly 12.2m people

The judges said Bells of Lazonby “are breaking new ground with bucket loads of innovation".

"They are loyal to Cumbria and take pride in their place but are not limited by it, they think on a big scale whilst remaining true to their family values and heritage," the judges added.

"They would be the pride of any county.”

Bells of Lazonby also won the hotly contested food and drink producer category.

The response to the first Cumbria Family Business Awards impressed the organisers and the evening trended third in the country on Twitter, higher than Gogglebox and Katie Hopkins.

“The evening was a tremendous success, to trend nationally that night will have helped to shine more light on this vital sector in our economy and community. We have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback and we already can’t wait for next year” said event organiser Sophia Newton.

The Herdy Company owners Spencer and Diane Hannah who won the Cumbria Family Business Award for Retailers and Wholesalers have said “Herdy is chuffed to bits with the recognition – and to help spotlight Cumbria and the Lake District”.

Manufacturing winners Twoey have received over 1000 messages of congratulations over the weekend and it looks as though Cumbria Family Business Awards are here to stay.

Winners

Outstanding Cumbria family business of the year – Bells of Lazonby, Lazonby;

Employee of the Year – Rob Grierson of Ultimate Security Group, Carlisle;

Agriculture, forestry and farming – Cumbrian Cow Ice Cream, Ulverston;

Food and drink producers – Bells of Lazonby, Lazonby;

Food and drink establishments – Zeffirellis, Ambleside;

Retailers and Wholesalers – The Herdy Company, Kendal;

Manufacturing – Twoey, Wigton;

Professional and business services – PHX Training, Carlisle;

Property and construction – GM & SM Marrs, Wigton (Carlisle Student Houses);

Small leisure and tourism business – Sally’s Cottages, Keswick;

Large leisure and tourism business – The Westmorland Family (Tebay Services, Rheged)

Transport and Logistics – Wm Armstrong, Longtown.