Record entries at Teesdale Business Awards

Allison and Jonathan Raper, from Teesdale Cheesemakers.

A PACKED house saw the dale usher in some of its brightest and best business stars.
Record category entries at Teesdale Business Awards were whittled down to 36 before the 12 winners were unveiled at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, last night (February 15).
Among the victors were forces charity owner Tommy Lowther, who picked up two awards for Sporting Force, with S&A Fabrications taking home Best Business.   
Gus Rowell, from Anthony Nixon Furniture, picked up Apprentice of the Year while fellow young gun Katie Barker took home the Young Entrepreneur award. 
A delighted Allison and Jonathan Raper claimed the Best New Business trophy for their work with Teesdale Cheesemakers.
The other winners were:
Environmental Achievement Award - Cross Lanes Organic Farm.
Best Community Engagement Project - Barnard Castle Cricket Club.
Best Customer Focus - Reboot Repairs and Design.
Most Innovative Business - Eating and Living.
Best Business Trading Outside Teesdale - Neat Acoustics Ltd.
Growth Business of the Year - Cafe Fresh.
Full round-ups, views, reaction and photos in next week's Teesdale Mercury.