The team from Northern food producer Hawkshead Relish discovered on earlier this month that they have been shortlisted as regional finalist for the North in the Best Rural Food & Drink Business Category in the 5th annual Rural Business Awards.
Now the team will have to wait until Friday 11th October to see who wins the plaudits as the North of England’s Best Food & Drink Producer regional finals being held at The Core, Newcastle University.
The Northern region covers rural businesses in Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham, Tyne & Wear, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Isle of Man and Cheshire.
The Awards celebrate the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy. A business segment, which employs in excess of 3.4 million people, in over 750,000 businesses in England alone, contributes some £229 billion to England’s total economy, which equates to a fifth of England’s total economic activity.
This year’s Rural Business Awards categories have been reconfigured to recognise the changing face of rural business, reducing the number of categories from 13 to 11. They include Best Rural Diversification Project, Best Rural Start Up, Best Rural Tourism Business and Best Rural Creative, Artisan or Crafts Business Award.
The Awards cover six regional areas covering the North, the Midlands, Wales & Northern Ireland, the South West, the South East and the East, the shortlisted finalists from each region will be announced throughout July. They will then be followed by the regional award presentations held in each area between October and November 2019. After which the winners from each region will then gather for the National Finals being held in February 2020, where the lucky finalists will discover who the overall UK winners are.
The annual Rural Business Awards celebrate the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy. A business segment, which employs in excess of 3.4 million people, in over 750,000 businesses in England alone, contributes some £229 billion to England’s total economy, which equates to a fifth of England’s total economic activity.
Maria Whitehead, MBE, co-owner of Hawkshead Relish, added: “We have been shortlisted alongside some excellent companies including Loch Durat, in Sutherland and The Grapes Inn, Slingsby, North Yorkshire. Being shortlisted in the Northern Regional finals is great news, especially as we are all really proud to represent the Lake District, Cumbria. Now all we have to do is see if we can win through in the national finals in February 2019 – so wish us luck and nearer the time let’s get everything crossed to see if we can win more plaudits for Cumbria.’’
