A successful business awards, set up several years ago to celebrate the achievements of family businesses in Cumbria is now expanding across the North West of England – and nominations and entries are now open.

Co-founded by The Family Business Network three years ago and now being taken forwards under the full ownership of the network, the awards are open for the first time to family businesses from Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside as well as Cumbria.

Entrants have until 16 January 2020 to enter their own business, or you can nominate a family business for free online.

Finalists will be chosen through a judging process ahead of the ceremony on March 6 2020 – and the North West Awards ceremony will be held in the first-class style at Manchester Airport under the wings of Concorde in the purpose-built hangar and events centre, with host, food writer and presenter Nigel Barden.

The Family Business Network was founded in 2014 by Sue Howorth. She explained: “The network has developed an engaged community of family businesses and those that support the sector.

“The network has also become the voice for family businesses across many regions of the country, originating in Cumbria and evolving to include the North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humberside and the East Midlands – which is why it made sense to expand these established awards across the North West in 2020.

“The awards are open to family businesses of all shapes and sizes who have a minimum of two family members working in the business. We have over 10 categories available to apply for and the awards will give you the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful sector that is family business.

“We are so pleased that food writer and broadcaster Nigel Barden has accepted our invitation to be the host for our special, inaugural North West Family Business Network Awards.

“Nigel is from the North West, growing up on the family farm and is a great supporter of the family business sector.”

Dave Clarkson, Co-Director of The Family Business Network, said: “The awards, along with the wider Family Business Network, unites the family business community, gives them a voice, a sense of belonging, and a safe and trusted environment where they can be confident in sharing with, and learning from, each other.”

The Family Business Network is not a membership model, so family businesses can pick and choose which events, support and help they want or require.

Sue added: “We offer a safe and encouraging peer to peer environment that facilitates and fosters positive change, growth and sustainability for family businesses.

“We offer knowledgeable signposting and support ensuring that the needs of family businesses remain at the heart of what we do.”

The expansion of the awards has created new sponsorship opportunities and information is available from the North West Family Business Awards website.

Dave added: “We look forward to celebrating family businesses and welcoming new sponsors for the North West awards.

“We will of course be sharing more news on our sponsors and event partners in the coming weeks.”

For more information about the Family Business Network visit: https://fambiznet.co.uk  and to nominate a family business for the Awards or enter visit: https://www.northwestfamilybusinessawards.co.uk  before the deadline at midnight on 16 January 2020.