THREE south Cumbrian firms triumphed at the prestigious Family Business of the Year Awards held at the Mayfair Hotel in London.

Playdale Playgrounds and English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues took home category awards while the Ambleside holiday cottage firm Heart of The Lakes won a ‘people’s choice’ accolade for the North and Northern Ireland.

Several other Cumbrian businesses were nominated, including Hawkshead Relish, Low Sizergh Barn, the Dale Lodge Hotel in Grasmere, and Nanny Brow in Ambleside.

English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues - which operates the Low Wood and Waterhead hotels at Ambleside, the Wild Boar at Crook, Lancaster House in Lancaster, and the Midland in Morecambe - won the hotel and leisure sector award.

And Playdale Playgrounds, based at Haverthwaite near Ulverston, was victorious in the manufacturing category. Both beat competition across the UK.

Simon Berry, managing director of the English Lakes Hotels, said: “Winning is a real feather in the cap for the entire team.

“It reflects our business ethos, our approach in terms of pastoral care, and family values which go back several generations. “Ultimately, it's the staff who make our business tick. Above all, we strive for everyone here to understand each other’s individual needs, from guests and visitors to colleagues and suppliers. He added: “We seek to develop their skills and confidence through training and motivation, by rewarding creativity and by encouraging them to go the extra mile for others and surpass our guests’ expectations.

“So it’s been fantastic to gain national recognition for what we are doing.”

The Family Business of the Year Awards are now in their fourth year. They recognise the diversity, strength and depth of family firms across the UK and aim to highlight the contribution that family firms make to the UK economy.

Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of Family Business United, which runs the award, said: “We were delighted to pull together such a vibrant bunch of family businesses for the 2016 awards.

“Some have succeeded for numerous generations and continue to thrive, and others that are relatively young but have great values at the heart of what they do.”