Published at 13:16, Friday, 29 June 2012

A pencil making company has been nominated in a category new to this year’s CN Business Awards.

The Workington-based Cumberland Pencil Company has been nominated in the best use of digital and social media category – a new section in this year’s celebration of the best in the county’s business.

The company, based at Jubilee Road on the Lillyhall Business Park, has been making pencils in the region for nearly 200 years.

However, it has more than kept pace with the changes in technology.

Rebecca Watson, the firm’s design and social media specialist, said: “We’ve been making pencils in Cumbria for 180 years.

“We have a long and distinguished history, and we are naturally very proud of it. At the same time, however, we have a reputation for innovative products that excite and inspire artists worldwide.

“Through social media we have been able to reach our customers worldwide.

“As we have distributors in the 73 countries we sell to, it is often difficult to discover our customers’ needs and wants directly; social media has allowed us to do this.

“We inspire our customers and they inspire us in return through posting ideas, drawings and giving us valuable feedback.

She added: “We wouldn’t be able to do this without a strong social media presence.”

Nominations are still open for the CN Business awards, organised by CN Group, publishers of The Cumberland News.

The awards, in association with Barclays and Invest in Cumbria, acknowledge the achievements of business in Cumbria. All shortlisted entries will receive coverage in CN Group newspapers and websites.

To see a list of categories or to apply, go to the business awards website www.cnbusinessawards.co.uk or call Alison Sisson on 01228 612617.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk