The husband-and-wife team who own Windermere’s Park Cliffe holiday park say they are “proud and humbled” after being named this month as winners of a major enterprise award.

Susan and Derek Dickson, together with their son Jack (21) and daughter Abi (23), received their accolade at the North West Family Business Awards 2023.

Held at Concorde Conference Centre at Manchester airport, the glittering awards ceremony was attended by over 500 business leaders from across the North West.

In the category of leisure and tourism small business of the year, Park Cliffe was declared the overall winner, beating scores of other regional enterprises to the title.

In order to reach the finals, the park had to undergo a rigorous inspection by competition judges to assess a raft of criteria from their record on innovation to their environmental responsibility.

“We were knocked for six when the announcement was made that we had taken first place in this heavily contested category,” said Susan.

“These awards meant a lot to us as they focus not just on the business as a successful family-run enterprise, but also on how we provide a memorable experience for guests.

“Judges looked at what customers were saying in their reviews about Park Cliffe, and how we encourage staff to engage with guests and help them enjoy their stay.

“The fact that we managed to tick all the boxes is an amazing credit to our team here!” she added.

Susan and Derek took over Park Cliffe 15 years ago, and have since invested much time and energy into ensuring that it provides top quality facilities and service.

Their reward has been to see an annual growth in visitor numbers from the UK and overseas, and a top five-star excellence rating from Visit England.

It has also achieved a number of environmental awards for its many initiatives to protect wildlife and care for the natural world, and for its sustainability policies.

The North West Family Business Awards are organised by The Family Business Community which brings family firms together to share experiences and help them continue to grow.

In their written comments, the judges said: “This family business is known for its exceptional service, breathtaking surroundings, and creating first-class holidays for all their guests.

“Their family values, passion and heartfelt drive and motivation were very clear to see, and left us in no doubt as to their eligibility for this honour.”

Park Cliffe provides luxury holiday homes to rent and own, glamping facilities, a self-catering cottage, and pitches for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes.

There are more details about the park on its website at www.parkcliffe.co.uk