Bakery Bells of Lazonby was crowned outstanding Cumbria family business of the year at the first Cumbria Family Business Awards at Castle Green in Kendal last month.

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

The event 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 consultancy in Windermere, and founder of Cumbria Family Business Network. The awards were sponsored by Lamont Pridmore in association with Enterprise Answers.

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 almost 12.2m people.

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

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 co-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”.

The category awards were designed by Jo Vincent Glass Designer. The organisers wanted them to reflect Cumbrian family businesses’ contribution to Cumbria and how they are part of the very fabric of the county. The unique glass trophies formed the outline from one of Cumbria’s iconic fells and each winner represented a piece of the landscape. Two additional awards - for Outstanding Cumbria Family Business of the Year and Employee of the Year -were created by Siobhan Newton of Miles Moore Ceramics.

Winners

  • Outstanding Cumbria Family Business of the Year

    Presented by Grahame Latus of Enterprise Answers

    Bells of Lazonby

  • Employee of the Year

    Presented by Richard Rankin of Armstrong Watson

    Rob Grierson of Ultimate Security Group

  • Agriculture Forestry and Farming

    Presented by Jonathan Lee of CN Group

    Cumbrian Cow Ice Cream

  • Food and Drink Producer

    Presented by Jacqui Jackson of Jardine Jackson Associates

    Bells of Lazonby

  • Food and Drink Establishment

    Presented by Andy Beeforth Cumbria Community Foundation

    Zeffirellis

  • Retailers and Wholesalers

    Presented by John Stevenson MP

    The Herdy Company

  • Manufacturing

    Presented by Chris Lamont of Lamont Pridmore

    Twoey

  • Professional and Business Services

    Presented by Harry Knowles of the Federation of Small Businesses

    PHX Training

  • Property and Construction

    Presented by Anthony Smith of Progression Solicitors

    GM & SM Marrs

  • Small Leisure and Tourism Business

    Presented by Sue Coulson of Coulson Associates and her brother Dave Howorth of Condeco

    Sally’s Cottages

  • Large Leisure and Tourism Business

    Presented by Paul Andrews of Family Business United

    Westmorland Family

  • Transport and Logistics

    Presented by Sophia Newton of The Good News Girl, and Janett Walker of Make It Happen

    WM Armstrong