The host for this year’s in-Cumbria Business Awards is telling guests to be prepared for a “glitzy, glamorous, fun and entertaining night”.

Presenter and broadcaster Zara Janjua will take the stage to welcome attendees to the awards when they take place at Dalston Hall on November 29.

This year’s awards will offer a fresh atmosphere and new entertainment for guests, including an after-show party featuring a DJ, sax player and casino following the awards ceremony.

The awards categories have been refreshed as well, with the category of Best Marketeer widened to include marketing teams, rather than individuals. Nominees will also be vying to win two new categories; Best Green Business and Best Diversity and Inclusion Business. This is in addition to 10 existing categories and the highly-prized Robin Burgess Lifetime Contribution to Cumbria award.

As an award-winning presenter and broadcaster host Zara’s career has spanned everything from journalism to stand-up comedy and she has worked in a wide range of TV, film, and radio.

A writer, producer and filmmaker, she has worked on ITV’s This Morning, sits on the ethnicity advisory council for NatWest Bank, played a journalist in ITV’s Karren Pirrie and films humanitarian documentaries all over the world, including presenting programmes from Guatemala to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Zara also has a strong connection to Cumbria, having come to the Lake District every year for the last decade to host and commentate at The Great North Swim.

“It was my first introduction to wild swimming and as a result, I have travelled the world dunking myself into rivers and lakes no matter the weather,” she says.

“My most recent cold dip took place in the Arctic Circle on a 10-day expedition with huskies, and I have Cumbria to thank for it. When I was training for Kilimanjaro in 2022 I spent time hiking the fells and staying in some beautiful campsites around Pillar, Scafell Pike and Skiddaw. I love being out in nature, it's in my Scottish blood. When I see a hill, I have to climb it and if there's a body of water, I'm diving in.”

Zara says this year’s new award for diversity and inclusion is particularly close to her heart - as is the prospect of an after party.

“I've been sitting on the Ethnicity Advisory Council at NatWest for three years, advising the company on strategy and policy to ensure a better workplace for their employees and experience for customers.

“Businesses that embrace DE&I outperform those that don't but there's not just a business argument for it, it just feels good to do the right thing. I'm also a big fan of letting my hair down, so the after-show party, DJ and casino are right up my street. It's so important to celebrate talent and success, particularly in business and industry where many of us struggle to take time out to appreciate what we have achieved.

My father was a business owner, so I grew up seeing first hand the sacrifices he made to ensure his company was a success.

"I studied business management in university, with the goal of working alongside him to help support him and his goals and now I work for myself. I am

looking forward to meeting people who are excelling in their field and hearing their stories and tips for success.

"I work alongside Baroness Karen Brady at her flagship event for women in business in London and always enjoy meeting the audience and hearing about their dreams and passions. There's something very exciting about the spark of passion and attitude to lifelong learning, it's infectious.”

Zara wished good luck to all the nominees for the awards, adding: “I aim to be warm, friendly, fun and inclusive.

It's a big responsibility to be your host for the night and I want to make sure you all feel welcome and seen.

“When I'm hosting I feel like I have invited you all round to my house but instead of running around getting you drinks and making sure you're fed, I'm there to entertain and make it all run smoothly.”

in-Cumbria associate editor Sue Riley says she is looking forward to the new look awards.

“There is always something new to enjoy at the in-Cumbria Business Awards each year, which is one of the things which makes it such an exciting event for all the team who work on the magazine,” she says.

“However, this year promises to have more surprises than ever, as well as the usual opportunity to enjoy great food and drink, network, meet new people and greet old friends.

“We have been blown away by the quality of the nominations so far and, as usual, picking a winner is going to give all our judges a headache.

“It will be thrilling to see the winners revealed on the night and I, for one, cannot wait to see you all there.”

THE AWARDS

ROBIN BURGESS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Sponsored by BAE Systems

NEW FOR 2024

BEST DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BUSINESS

We are looking for a business which can demonstrate a commitment towards diversity and inclusion, reflected in the company's values. So, who has impressed you with their strategies and policies, but also with their passion for fairness and determination to deliver equality everywhere? The business should foster an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Rachael Bell Wealth Management

This award is for a businessperson who has made an outstanding contribution to their company in the last year. You can put yourself forward or be nominated by another person. The judges will be looking for someone who has:

· Demonstrated exceptional commitment

· Shown inspirational leadership and vision

· Had a significant impact on improving the performance of the business

APPRENTICE/TRAINEE OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by David Allen

This award will go to the apprentice or trainee who in the view of both the employer and the judges has demonstrated:

· Real dedication to the apprentice or trainee programme

· An enthusiastic attitude toward learning

· A clear application of knowledge and skills learned

BEST LARGE BUSINESS - Sponsored by Cartmell Shepherd

This award will recognise a business with 51 employees or more that can demonstrate:

· Strong leadership and vision

· Sustained growth and sound financial performance

· Innovation and differentiation within the business

BEST SME BUSINESS - Sponsored by The Cumberland

This award will recognise a business with one to 50 employees that can demonstrate:

· Strong leadership and vision

· Good sales growth and sound financial performance

· A robust plan for sustained growth

BEST NEW BUSINESS

The award is open to a successful company that has been in operation for less than three years. The judges will be interested to know:

· The motivations for starting the business

· How it has developed and what has been achieved so far

· The vision for the future and how aims to accomplish it

BEST FAMILY BUSINESS - Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore

The judges will be looking for a family-owned or family-managed business which has at least two members of a family involved in running it, and which can clearly demonstrate how it has achieved success. Entries must demonstrate:

· How the family business ethos runs through the company

· What success has been enjoyed – such as financial performance, order book, jobs, sustainability, longevity, positive impact on community and local economy – and how has it been achieved

· How the values of a family business have underpinned that success

· How the family business is building for the future

BEST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMPANY – Sponsored by NRL

This award will recognise a business that can demonstrate an outstanding level of professional service delivery. The winner will be able to demonstrate:

· Strong professional credentials, including high professional accreditation levels of senior managers

· Successful promotion of brand identity and its impact on the company’s success

· Professionalism in service-delivery

BEST GREEN BUSINESS

Judges are looking for businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to reducing their environmental impact across all operations. Key considerations include efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and investments in renewable energy. Additionally, the company should prioritise sustainability and innovation, actively seeking ways to minimise its environmental footprint while fostering positive environmental change.

BEST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - Sponsored by React Engineering

This award will go to a business that can show its proactive commitment to putting something back into their local community. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the proportionate investment by the business in terms of time and effort, as opposed to pure cash contributions. Examples of activity could be:

· Providing financial support to community projects

· Giving practical assistance in terms of time or expertise

· Allowing charities, schools or community organisations to benefit from the resources of the business

FLYING THE FLAG FOR CUMBRIA AWARD - Sponsored by The University of Cumbria

This award is open to Cumbrian-headquartered businesses that are well and truly putting the county on the map with the products and services they offer. The winner will be able to demonstrate:

• How they have developed new or grown existing markets across the UK and/ or overseas

• How this has translated into sales

• Plans for further growth backed by evidence it can be sustained

BEST MARKETING PROFESSIONAL/TEAM - Sponsored by 32 West

The expert judges will be on the hunt for an individual or team who has achieved exceptional results in raising brand awareness for their organisation and in the last 12 months has:

• Shown how their understanding of marketing has helped identify a clear market opportunity to launch a new product or develop an existing one

• Documented a creative marketing strategy to realise the market opportunity

• Implemented an action plan to deliver the strategy with positive measurable results