A celebration of Cumbria's firms has been held.

The Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster Business Awards were held at Energus, Lillyhall.

Hosted by Kim Inglis, eight awards were presented in front of a packed audience, including representatives from sponsors Carr’s Engineering, Sellafield Ltd and Areva.

The winners were:

Socio Economic Commitment to West Cumbria: Kaefer

Inspiring People: Energus

Growing Business: Prima Uno Limited

BECBC Board Special Recognition Award: Socio Economic Sector Group of BECBC for the World of Work programme

Businessperson of the Year: Sarah Purdham of Prima Uno Limited

Micro Business of the Year: Adamedia Ltd

SME Business of the Year: Grisdales Estate Agents

Large Business of the Year: Kaefer. Highly Commended: TSP Engineering

Ivan Baldwin, chairman of BECBC, said: "We decided to make the business awards an annual event in response to the entry levels and demand for tickets in recent years.

"This year’s dinner had a real feel of friends together celebrating each other’s successes.

"There were some firsts with a Special Recognition Award from the Business Cluster Board and a Businessperson of the Year Award, the only category that had a member vote to decide the winner.

"And it was a celebration of the diversity of our membership too, from the Cumbrian operations of global companies to the smallest micro business born and thriving here.”

In his speech at the opening of the evening, Tim Davies, chief executive of Carr’s Engineering, said: “Carr’s has been in Cumbria for over 150 years and it’s great to support an event like this here in Cumbria.

"The business cluster is an ideal forum to create the trust and to generate the relationships that then lead to business success.”

Jamie Reed, head of development and community relations for Sellafield Ltd also spoke.

He said: “There’s a lot of change coming to this area and to Sellafield in the next few years.

"But historically, change is what Cumbria has always done and it’s what we’re good at. I heard Barack Obama talk about change and he said that we are the people we’ve been waiting for to make change happen and that’s absolutely right.

"Many of the people at this event are the ones who will make it happen in Cumbria.”

Mr Baldwin presented the special recognition award to Phil Bennett, of Wood, who leads the socio economic sector group.

Mr Baldwin said: "The World of Work programme highlights the wide range of career possibilities with Cumbrian businesses and organisations and encourages young people to be inspired and consider those opportunities for themselves.

"Members of the group have worked together and with schools and the team at Inspira to create an approach that is simple but effective and that it working well for schools, for businesses and, ultimately, for students too. We’re looking forward to the next phase.”

Businessperson of the Year Sarah Purdham, of Prima Uno, said: “We won’t be taking the foot off the gas.

"I’ve been blown away by the growth of Prima Uno in its first five years and it’s a real testament to our clients and to all the staff – we’ve recently opened offices in two other locations, grown to nearly 40 people and taken on our first international client in the US.

"Personally, I’m honoured and humbled and want to thank everyone who voted and a huge thank you to everyone involved in the business.”

Hospice at Home West Cumbria benefited from the generosity of guests on the night with donations from tables going towards the charity in its 30th year.

Mr Baldwin said: “The awards were a celebration of the diversity of the business cluster – it’s not all nuclear.

"We celebrated with friends from global businesses engaging in Cumbria and we celebrated with businesses that were born here and are thriving. There are brains, beauty and heart in this area and Cumbrian businesses certainly have heart.”