For Mark Telford, managing director of Forth Engineering, being named as Business Person of the Year was another celebration in a month when the company marked 25 years in business.

Mark founded the company alongside wife Nicola in 2000. It has since grown from a small home-based business into a leading engineering firm with a team of 48, delivering innovative solutions across various industries.

“At Forth, we are all hugely proud to be a Cumbrian company which delivers world-first innovations for industry thanks to the skills and can-do approach of our teams from our three bases at Flimby, Cleator Moor and Barrow,” said Mark.

“We always take any opportunity we can to shine a light on Cumbria and the dynamic SMEs and larger businesses, diverse organisations and inspirational individuals we are lucky to have in this county.

“As well as providing sustainable employment and training, we are also focused on ‘giving back’ to the county which has supported us so well over the years.

“We are proud to donate our time, skills, equipment and funding to a whole range of initiatives across communities where we operate.

“We recently launched a Just Giving appeal to raise £25k for local charity Home to Work which helps give people the skills, confidence and pathway into employment to benefit them, their families and the wider Cumbrian community.

“The in-Cumbria awards are a celebration of all that is great about the Cumbrian business community and what it delivers for our county. At Forth we are incredibly proud to play our part in that.”

Forth has achieved a record year with a 50 per cent increase in turnover to £4.56 million and gross profits nearing £1 million.

The company, under Mark's leadership, distinguishes itself by providing bespoke solutions for safety-critical and regulated industries, such as nuclear decommissioning, oil and gas, marine, and renewables.