The finalists for the 2016 CN Group Business Awards have been chosen, and West Cumbria is well represented.

The annual awards, run by CN Group, publisher of the Times & Star, celebrate the achievements of Cumbrian businesses.

They will be presented at a gala dinner at the Low Wood Bay Resort, near Ambleside, on October 20, when the newly-appointed Small Business Minister, Margot James, will be headline speaker.

The judges have picked 45 finalists and 15 winners, whose identity will be kept under wraps until the night.

TSP Engineering, the new name for Tata Steel Projects in Workington, is shortlisted twice, for the training and development award and for manufacturing business of the year.

Two West Cumbrians, Sarah Purdham of Prima Uno in Cleator Moor and Craig Hatch of WYG in Cockermouth, are in the running for businessperson of the year.

Prima Uno is also shortlisted for service business of the year.

Meanwhile, the Lakes Distillery at Setmurthy, near Bassenthwaite, is hoping to pull off an illustrious double by winning the tourism and hospitality prize for the second year running.

Other West Cumbrian finalists include Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster, Cumbria Travel, Westlakes Engineering, Forth Engineering, Sally's Cottages and Amy's Care CIC.

Jonathan Lee, development director of CN Group, who chaired the judging panel, said: "All the judges were particularly impressed with the standard of this year's entries.

"It is testimony to the energy and commitment of individual business people and the dynamic and diverse businesses across the whole of Cumbria that the judges had such a difficult task.

"Cumbria has such a lot to shout about and be proud of when it comes to its business community. We look forward to the CN Business Awards showcasing that excellence at the awards ceremony in October."

The other judges were John Grainger, stakeholder director at Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster, Paul Murphy, a former CN Group Business Awards winner who won businessperson of the year in 2014, and CN Group business editor Julian Whittle.

Mr Grainger declared an interest in categories where Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster members were under consideration.

All shortlisted businesses receive two complimentary tickets for the awards dinner.

Finalists

Training and Development Award: Country House Outdoor, Carlisle; TSP Engineering, Workington; Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster.

Exporter of the Year: Wax Lyrical, Lindal-in-Furness; Oxley Group, Ulverston; Clark Door, Carlisle.

Community Involvement: Net Development, Kendal; Carlisle United Football Club; Baines Wilson LLP, Carlisle.

Innovation: QG Business Solutions, Scotby; Innovia Group, Wigton; Kendal Nutricare.

Environmental and Energy Awareness: Ecological Building Systems, Carlisle; FSC Blencathra Centre, Threlkeld; Wax Lyrical, Lindal-in-Furness.

Agribusiness of the Year: Cows & Co, Warwick Bridge; Quattro Products, Penrith; Lakes Free Range Egg Co, Stainton.

Tourism and Hospitality Award: Zeffirellis, Ambleside; Treetop Trek, Windermere; The Lakes Distillery, Bassenthwaite.

New Business of the Year: Cumbria Teaching Agency, Ulverston; Cumbria Travel, Whitehaven; Kendal Nutricare.

Service Business of the Year: Westlakes Engineering, Whitehaven; Prima Uno, Cleator Moor; InvestAcc Group, Carlisle.

Manufacturing Business of the Year: Forth Engineering, Maryport; TSP Engineering, Workington; Clark Door, Carlisle.

Best Use of Media: Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Grasmere; Bruce and Luke's, Carlisle; Country House Outdoor, Carlisle.

Customer Service Excellence Award: Sally's Cottages, Keswick; Armstrong Watson, Carlisle; Brampton Skip Hire, Carlisle.

Rising Star Award: Will Gardner-Brennand, Miller Waite, Ulverston; Kyle Jenkinson, Forth Engineering, Maryport; James Brockbank, Digitaloft, Kendal.

Businessperson of the Year: Craig Hatch, WYG, Cockermouth; Emma Hill, RadioWorks, Carlisle; Sarah Purdham, Prima Uno, Cleator Moor.

Social Enterprise of the Year: Amy's Care CIC, Ireby; Carlisle United Community Sports Trust; Enterprise Answers, Penrith.