Our 2019 winners urge others to enter this year's awards. 

John Coughlan, chief executive of TSP Engineering won one of the most coveted titles at the 2019 awards, Businessperson of the Year. 

“Winning the award has greatly benefitted the business, as well as me personally,” says John. 

In Cumbria: John Coughlan John Coughlan

“We have had enquiries about TSP Engineering can work with other businesses on the back of the win and I have been invited to get involved with new boards and other organisations to help them. 

“It’s brought a lot of visibility to our business and raised our profile a lot too.  

“To anyone considering entering the in-Cumbria Business Awards 2020 – and this is for any of the categories, not just the Businessperson of the Year award – I would say don’t even think about it not doing it.  

“We have so many companies with so many achievements under their belt and these awards celebrate that and put a real spotlight on the things they have done.”  

Genesis Homes walked away with two awards last year. The Penrith-based business won the hotly contested Best New Business category, while its managing director Nicky Gordon picked up the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. 

In Cumbria: Nicky Gordon Nicky Gordon

Nicky says: “These awards really highlight the hard work and dedication that the team has put into the business over the last two-and-a-half years.  

“The award plaques have pride of place in our offices and visitors are always impressed by the accolade of us winning.  

“The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award means a lot to me personally as I’ve worked hard to build the business and, as any business owner will acknowledge, there’s sleepless nights and a lot of out of hours working that often means missing out on spending time with my family. 

“After the awards ceremony we had so many great comments from suppliers, stakeholders and friends.  

 “For any companies out there thinking of entering, I’d say go for it – there’s nothing to lose, and you might even end up being on that stage collecting your own award!” 

Carlisle’s Clark Door was another double winner on the night, picking up the Best Manufacturing Business and Flying the Flag for Cumbria awards. 

Its managing director, Andrew Ashley, says: “We have a great sense of pride of winning the awards. “There was nothing better than sharing the success of our two awards with the whole team the day after the awards ceremony, we took some great photos of whole workforce with great big smiles! 

In Cumbria: Andrew Ashley Andrew Ashley

“I think it gives people in Carlisle and Cumbria a greater sense of the types of customers and projects we get involved with as a company – we have never really thought about the fact that we fly the flag for Cumbria as we just get on with it.  

“It’s a great way for companies to raise their profiles locally, when our staff attend events and training courses, we have noticed that more people know who Clark Door are now.”