What a proud moment for Cumbria as three Cumbrian family businesses received national recognition at the Family Business of the Year Awards (run by Family Business United) held at The Mayfair in London recently.

Wm Armstrong were crowned the best family run Transport & Logistics business in the country and were also runners-up as overall winners which went to Manchester’s HMG Paints.

In a hotly contested category The Churchmouse at Barbo were recognised as the nation’s best Hotel & Leisure family business and Hawkshead Relish picked up the gong for the country’s best Small Family Business.

The winning three were joined in London by 10 other of the region’s family business owners as 13 Cumbrian businesses made it to the national finals. Zeffirellis & Fellinis, Sally’s Cottages, PHX Training, Grasmere Gingerbread, Bells of Lazonby, GM & SM Marrs, Lakes Cottage Holidays, Reays Coaches, JMP Foodservices and JB Banks of Cockermouth were all acknowledged as finalists in the nationals in what was a bumper year for Cumbria.

This strong local representation was down to the both the network and Cumbria Family Business Awards as organisers Sophia Newton, Janett Walker and myself had arranged that finalists could link into the national awards if they wanted to.

I was delighted to see 13 of our finalists representing the county on a national stage. For three of them to pick up awards is fantastic news for them and the vitally important family business sector as a whole. Go Cumbria! I’m with you all the way!