WITH new awards ceremonies popping up across Cumbria, JOSHUA HAMMOND spoke to some winners about the benefits for their business

With the Love Barrow awards and the Family Business Awards both taking place this month, Cumbrian businesses got the opportunity to showcase their businesses to potential clients, customers and members of the public.

The Family Business Awards were organised by three Cumbrian entrepreneurs; Sophia Newton of The Good News Girl, a Windermere-based PR and social media firm, Janett Walker of Make It Happen, an events and HR firm also based in Windermere, and Sue Coulson of Coulson Associates, a global outsourced provider of business development solutions based in Windermere, and founder of Cumbria Family Business Network.

Mrs Newton said: “I think the important thing to take away from this is that there are ways and means of getting yourself noticed both locally and nationally that don’t cost the earth.

She added: “The atmosphere on the night itself was electric, people were all having a great time and getting together. We had artists and members of the creative community enjoying conversations with some really big hitters in the business community.”

Denise Stable, the owner of Cumbrian Cow Ice Cream, took home the award for agriculture, forestry and farming and said that the experience had already been beneficial for the business.

She said: "This has been a great opportunity for our business. As well as meeting other like-minded people and raising the profile of our business, it has also encouraged us to reflect on the best attributes of our business.

“On the night we met lots of interesting people from the hospitality and catering industry, who were also great company. They also offered lots of useful advice to us, as newcomers in the food sector.”

PHX Training, which has offices in Barrow, Kendal and Millom, also tasted success at the Family Business Awards.

The firm’s Barrow-born finance director, Jayne Scott, said that an ex-employee and nine other members of the public had nominated the business for an award.

Discussing the win, Mrs Scott said: “We feel honoured and humbled to receive such an amazing award and are very proud of all our employees and what we do.

“The event was amazing and such a good idea for local businesses to sit back and reflect on all the hard work and positive things they do and also create such a positive outcome for all employees and people involved with the different businesses.

“I think because of all the nitty-gritty of everyday business and the stresses of running your own business, you sometimes forget all the positives and it takes something like this to make you realise that actually, yes, we do a good thing and help a significant amount of people each and every year, changing their lives for the better.”

The annual Love Barrow Awards honour charity workers, teachers and outstanding citizens - as well as businesses - recognised for their incredible work in the town.

Lake District Farmers was recognised at the Love Barrow awards and named community-focused business of the year.

The meat supply business saw its premises ravaged by fire in 2015, but bounced back to give around £235,000 to local causes.

Dan Austin, managing director of Lake District Farmers, said: “For us, I do think that winning this award will have an impact on our business, not necessarily in the Barrow area but nationwide.

“People want to do business with companies that are ethical, that give back to their local communities and winning an award like the community-focused business award at the Love Barrow Awards will go a long way to demonstrate that to our customers.

“I think what it will really do as well is accelerate our charity work because winning the award has shown that we are making a difference.”