Dozens of Cumbria businesses are among those nominated for this year's North West Family Business Awards.

The shortlist for the competition was unveiled, featuring 67 companies and individuals from across the region.

These were selected following a record number of entries.

The North West Family Business Awards, orchestrated by The Family Business Community, celebrates the successes of family companies across the region.

Divided into seventeen categories, this year saw tough competition with the judges looking for evidence of exceptional business strategy, quality service, sound business procedures, values, and evidence of future sustainability.

Dave Clarkson, co-founder of The Family Business Community, said: "Family businesses come in all shapes and sizes, and we feel it is vitally important to represent them as a sector in their own right.

"From micro businesses to multi-generational companies that have been operating for hundreds of years, we’re looking forward to a real celebration at this May’s awards."

Selena Kearvall, senior vice president of Marsh Commercial, a judge for this year's awards, said: "Having worked closely with family-run businesses throughout my career, I understand the resilience, passion, and dedication that these enterprises bring to their communities.

"My fellow judge, Tom Mathew, Group Commercial Director of Dunsters Farm, expressed similar sentiments about the judging process, stating: "As always, it was fantastic to hear the stories of the resilient and ambitious business people working in family-run businesses across the region."

The North West Family Business Awards have now been running for a number of years, honouring hundreds of impressive family-run firms, and contributing to their exposure and growth.

From the agribusiness category to more niche areas such as the Green Award and Digital Transformation, businesses large and small are recognised for their achievements and contributions to their local economy.

Each finalist will now receive a visit from the judging panel before the final winners are announced at an extravagant ceremony.

This takes place on Friday, May 10 at The Premier Suite at Bolton Football Stadium.

For more information, visit www.northwestfamilybusinessawards.co.uk/2024-finalists/.

The Westmorland Gazette: The shortlist for the competition was unveiled, featuring 67 companies and individuals from across

See the full list of nominees below:

Agribusiness

The Torpenhow Farm House Dairy

Threlfall's Farm Dairies

H Pigney & Son

Eden Yard

Construction, Property & Engineering

DASCO Construction

Orb Rope Access

Cubby Construction

Story Decorating Group

Business Services B2B

Cache4 IT

Cando Payments

Crime Prevention Services

Business Services B2C

Clifton Homecare

C&D Family Care

Hardy Soft Play Hire

Atherton House Group

Professional Carers

Manufacturing

Arden Dies

The Rakem Group

Seaways Services

Vanliners

Open House Products

Roberts Manufacturing

Haulage, Logistics & Transport

Seaways Services

Grace Overseas

Trinity Logistics

Wholesalers

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park

Penningtons Tea & Coffee

Honeyberry Solutions

Mini & Mighty

Retailers & E-Tailers

H Pigney & Son

Mini & Mighty

Adaptive Clothing

Charnleys Home & Garden

Briggs Shoes

Food & Drink Producers

Lovingly Artisan

Shed One

Higginsons of Grange

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park

Spice Kitchen

Wild Fox Distillery

Penningtons Tea & Coffee

Food & Drink Establishments

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park

The Yan

The White Bull at Oswaldtwistle

Sabden Smash

Wild Fox Distillery

Leisure & Tourism

Cheshire Alpacas

Sunnyside Guest House

Shed One

R&D Kellet Mill House Farm

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park

Applegarth Villa

Park Foot Holiday Park

Employee of the Year

Dave Lavery - Adlington Law

Conrad Black - Almond & Mellor Services

Caitlin Allan - Aqueous Digital

Nicola Braide - C&D Family Care

Suzanne Booth & Laurie Brown - Cathy's of Garston

Jelena Fedorjaks - Nutree Life

Stephen Butterworth - Story Decorating Group

Dawn Cross - Wild Fox Distillery

Josh Wheeler - Arden Dies

Ella Telford - Telford Automobiles

Sarah Ainsworth - Mrs Dowsons Farm Park

Tyrone Blake - San Pietro

Mandy Bury - Grace Overseas

John Ashcroft - Helen Home Funeral Directors

Emerging Family Business

R&D Kellet Mill House Farm

Honey Berry Solutions

Eden Yard

Adaptive Clothing

Sabden Smash

MashCroft's

Peoples Choice

Atlas Environmental Services

Castle Guards Farm Retreats

Cathy's of Garston

Cumbria Access & Maintenance Solutions

Coniston Stonecrafts

Helen Home Funeral Directors

Lakes Sandwiches

San Pietro

StarKidz Entertainment

Telford Automobiles

Village Green Tearooms

John Watt & Son

Green Award - Large

Arden Dies

Cubby Construction

Seaways Services

Story Decorating Group

Green Award - Small

R&D Kellet Mill House Farm

Shed One

The Yan

Hesketh Jones Construction

Community Impact - Large

Aqueous Digital

Adlington Law

Grace Overseas

The Rakem Group

Community Impact - Small

Hardy Soft Play Hire

Adaptive Clothing

Razzamatazz

Digital Transformation

Arden Dies

Cubby Construction

Adlington Law

Nutree Life

The Doris Project

RAF Engineering

Leadership Excellence

Adam Hodgkinson - Nutree Life

Sanjay Aggarwal - Spice Kitchen

Diana Grayston - The Lancashire Handyman

Karen Farrell - Crime Prevention Services

Sara Taylor - Grace Overseas

Caroline Cosh - Clifton Homecare

Briony Fawcett - PHX Training