A West Cumbrian engineering firm has been shortlisted for a national award.

Forth Engineering is up for the small company of the year prize at the British Engineering Excellence Awards - one of the most prestigious competitions in the industry. It is one of five nominees in this category.

The firm is also nominated for four other gongs; two each in the Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster and the CN Group Business Awards.

Director Martin Lewis joked: "We have got a bit of a run going with awards."

Forth is based between Flimby and Maryport and was set up in 2000.

It specialises in supplying specialist equipment, particularly to the nuclear industry, including inspection cameras, remote operated vehicles and tools.

Mr Lewis explained that the company does "a lot of work with Sellafield" but also has customers who are small or medium-sized businesses.

"If you come to us we will get a job done," he said.
"We are still a business that will deal with a local fisherman or farmer."

He added that the company, which has 31 staff, has a major research and development operation.

"We are working with (Government body) UK Trade and Industry and one of the things we are doing is a robotic spider to help in the nuclear decomissoning industry," he said.

This contract is set to run for 30 months and has seen the company employ a PhD holder.

Mr Lewis said the staff at the firm were always pleased to be nominated for awards.

"Winning would be a bonus in all of the awards but it is nice just to be shortlisted for what we do."

His points were echoed by managing director Mark Telford, who set the company up with his wife Nicola.

In October 2015 he was named businessperson of the year in the CN Group Business Awards.

He said: "I say the same thing every year, it is down to the work that we do. All of my guys work hard.

"It is quite amazing really to think we are in the top five in the country."

The national award winner will be announced in London on October 6.