Family firms can start entering the prestigious Cumbria Family Business Awards from tomorrow.

Now in their third year, the awards take place on March 8 at Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa on the shores of Windermere.

Over 100 family businesses from across the county apply each year in the hopes of winning a coveted award which has seen winners including Bells of Lazonby, Pioneer Foodservices, Herdy and Miles-Moore Ceramics.

A rigorous judging process sifts through the written applications before a round of face-to-face interviews helps the judges make their final decisions.

The main judging panel for 2019 includes some of Cumbria’s brightest and most well-respected business leaders.

Head judge is Graham Lamont, chief executive of accountancy firm Lamont Pridmore.

He will lead the panel comprising of Grahame Latus, chief executive of Enterprise Answers, Jacqui Jackson, director of Thomas Jardine & Co, international travel blogger Zoe Dawes, known as The Quirky Traveller, Anthony Smith, managing director of Progression Solicitors, Ben Berry, director of English Lakes Hotels and Rachel Halliday, director of Stephenson Halliday.

Paul Andrews, director of Family Business Unitedd, will oversee the applications form London as category winners automatically enter Family Business United’s national Family Business of the Year Awards and the Employee of the Year Award will be judged by NXT Recruitment.

Mr Lamont said: “Judging these awards is a real privilege and I’m looking forward to learning more about the people and businesses that make Cumbria the vibrant community we all know and love.”

Applications open at midnight tomorrow and a series of workshops are being held to help companies with their applications.

For more information, visit www.cumbriafamilybusinessawards.uk