Last updated at 16:37, Friday, 31 October 2008

Recession? What recession? Cumbria’s business community shrugged off the financial crisis to turn out in force for the county’s most prestigious business awards last night.

• Video: CN Group Business Awards 2008

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Two hundred and fifty of the region’s most influential industry chiefs were at Rheged, Penrith, for the CN Group Business Awards 2008.

In a night of drama, the most startling winner was a Cumbrian farm park opened just four months ago.

Walby Farm Park, of Crosby-on-Eden, pipped Rheged itself and South Lakes Animal Park, of Dalton-in-Furness, to the Best Visitor Attraction crown.

The business was only launched on July 5 and has become an instant with the public.

The venture is as good an example of farm diversification it is possible to imagine.

Neil Milbourn, who runs the farm park with wife Katie, said he was “stunned” at the award.

“We’re absolutely flabbergasted, especially because it is the public that have voted for us,” he said.

“We are overwhelmed and delighted that people have enjoyed coming here so much that they wanted to vote for us.

“The response since we launched has been absolutely phenomenal and this is the icing on the cake.

“To beat such fantastic attractions as Rheged and South Lakes Animal Park is amazing.”

Other big winners included The Cumberland Building Society, Bells of Lazonby, accountant and Carlisle United chief David Allen and Barrow submarine manufacturer BAE Systems.

The most keenly fought category, Business of the Year (Small), was so close to call, judges could not separate west Cumbrian estate agent Grisdales and Penrith sign maker ASTSigns and named them joint winners.

Those attending the glittering awards were treated to a gala dinner in Rheged’s Mountain Hall and speeches by BBC financial reporter Adam Shaw and key Shadow Cabinet member, and Tory MP for Dumfriesshire, David Mundell.

This year’s CN Group Business Award winners are:

Training and Development, sponsored by David Allen & Co Accountants: Bells of Lazonby

Exporter of the Year, Sponsored by HSBC: Primasonics International Limited

Community Involvement, sponsored by The Cumberland Building Society: Derwent & Solway Housing Association

Manufacturing & Engineering, sponsored by Furness Enterprise: BAE Systems Pipe Production Facility

Innovation & Technology, sponsored by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: 3SL

Environmental Awareness, sponsored by Amey: Capita Symonds

Visitor Attraction, sponsorsed by Cumbria County Council: Walby Farm Park

Business of the Year (Small), sponsored by Business Link Northwest: Grisdales and AstSigns

Business of the Year (Medium), sponsored by CN Group: Calder Foods

Business of the Year (Large), sponsored by Invest in Cumbria: The Cumberland Building Society

Manager of the Year, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland: Marie Twiss-Walker, Hoopers

Employee of the Year, sponsored by Redhall Group Ltd: Paul Sermon, Amey

Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Burnetts Solicitors: Christopher Harrison, Harrison Northern Ltd

Businessman of the Year, sponsored by Calder Foods: David Allen, David Allen & Co. Chartered Accountants

Businesswoman of the Year sponsored by Capita Symonds: Sarah Dunning, Westmorland Limited

Lifetime Contribution, sponsored by Cumbria Vision: Bill Lowther

First published at 15:33, Thursday, 30 October 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk