What an evening of celebration it was last night!

Our in-Cumbria Business Awards returned in person this year with more than 200 of the county’s top businesspeople joining in the celebrations.

The evening at The Halston started with a drinks reception sponsored by FW Capital and then a welcome by LOCALiQ commercial director Lee Taylor-Craddock who thanked headline sponsor United Utilities and all the other category sponsors, before introducing the guest presenter for the night, BBC Countryfile’s Helen Skelton.

Born and bred in Cumbria, Helen knew many of the businesses who picked up the 12 awards. Heavily pregnant with her third child, she told the audience: “I am delighted to be here tonight to help recognise and celebrate the best of Cumbria – the people and businesses that make it the innovative and successful county that it is. From our one-man-bands to our large enterprises and our family run and long-established firms, this is a dynamic region that has lots to offer, and tonight we will celebrate them all.”

After a delicious three-course dinner and entertainment by Ewan McCall Shades of Sax, Stringfever and caricaturist Barrie James who created dozens of amusing pictures on the night, the award presentation began. Each win was greeted with huge rounds of applause, including the new category of Flying the Flag for Cumbria which was won by Cleator Moor-based S.Brannan & Sons. It was a particularly busy night for the company which won not one but two categories! The judges independently decided the business should win Best SME of the Year and also Flying the Flag. Perhaps the most popular award of the night though was the prestigious Robin Burgess Lifetime Achievement which was collected by Martin Rayner on behalf of himself and his two brothers, Julian and Sam who have made Lakeland such a key brand over the past four decades.

Congratulations to them and to all the other well deserved winners who were:

ROBIN BURGESS LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO CUMBRIA AWARD

Sponsored by BAE Systems

Sam, Martin and Julian Rayner, Lakeland, Windermere

MARKETEER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Inspira

Rosina Merrett, The Creative Branch, Staveley

SME OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Lancaster University Management School

S. Brannan & Sons, Cleator Moor

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore

Lake District Hotels, Keswick

BEST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Sponsored by The Cumberland

Sedbergh School

BEST NEW BUSINESS

Sponsored by Carr’s Engineering

Coniston Stonecraft

APPRENTICE/TRAINEE OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by David Allen

Adam Hindhaugh, AW Jenkinson

GREEN/ETHICAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by South Lakeland District Council

Eva’s Organics, Carlisle

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by United Utilities

Sarah Purdham, Prima Uno, Cleator Moor.

FLYING THE FLAG FOR CUMBRIA

Sponsored by the University of Cumbria

S. Brannan & Sons, Cleator Moor

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by TSP Engineering

The Cumberland, Carlisle

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUSINESS

Sponsored by Circular 1 Health

Burnetts Solicitors, Carlisle