Finalists announced for upcoming BECBC Business Awards

The finalists at this year’s prestigious Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Awards have been revealed by organisers.

The judges for the 2025 awards will soon start visiting the 40 shortlisted companies and individuals made up of BECBC members who make a positive difference to their area and industry.

This year’s ceremony will provide members with an opportunity to say a personal thank you to John Grainger who is presiding over the awards for the final time this year in his role as head judge.

A special trophy in recognition of his 20 years of service at BECBC sees the introduction of the John Grainger Award, which will be presented to an individual John feels has made a lasting impact on the cluster. John retired from his role as executive director of the organisation earlier this year.

As a further tribute, the theme of the evening will be chocolate – a nod to John’s famed love of hot chocolate.

John said: “The BECBC Awards are only a couple of months away now and preparations are in full swing for what will be once again, a wonderful night of celebration. We will honour individuals and companies alike and there is a high standard of applications that have now made it through to shortlisting.”

“We could not achieve such a special occasion without the support of our Sponsors and I want to pay tribute to them for helping to enable Dianne and her team to show off the Energus location at its very best. I wish every success to all finalists, both individually and corporately.”

The BECBC Business Awards Gala Dinner 2025 will be held on November 20 at Energus, Lillyhall, Workington, with Sharon Brook, of North Lakes Spa & Hotel, hosting the ceremony.

The shortlisted finalists are as follows:

Business of the Year (sponsored by Sellafield Ltd)

• Cumbria Health
• Forth
• No Name Travel

Business Person of the Year (sponsored by Westinghouse)

• Vicky Brown (No Name Travel)
• Zoe Billings (Adapt and Evolve Consultancy)
• Rob Jones (Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick)

Charity of the Year (sponsored by Cavendish)

• Cumbria Youth Alliance
• Always Another Way
• Outbound Bound
• Great North Air Ambulance

Rising Star (sponsored by KBR)

• Jack Farrington (Morgan Sindall)
• Jamie Leigh Blair (Morgan Sindall)
• Leigh Brown (Orano)
• Rocco Boyd (West Cumberland Group)
• Aaron Neary (Ansaldo)
• Brad Goulding (Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick)

Empowering the Next Generation (sponsored by Delkia)

• Engineering Centre of Excellence
• David Allen IT Solutions
• West Cumberland Group
• Ansaldo

Growing Business (sponsored by Morgan Sindall)

• Alpha
• 3D 360
• Adamedia

Micro Business (sponsored by Amentum)

• Precision HR
• Clint Stamper Training Limited
• Brian Austwick
• Adamedia

Performance Culture (sponsored by Altrad Babcock)

• FIS 360
• Prima Uno
• Red Engineering

Social Value (sponsored by Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick)

• Cumbria Community Foundation
• Forth
• Mott MacDonald.

Ambassador of the Year (sponsored by Realise HR, iSH and No Name Travel)

• Ken Johnston (Forth)
• Garry Smith (Thomas Graham)

Environmental (sponsored by UKNNL)

• Cavendish
• Cyclife
• Electric Executive Cars

Partnership (sponsored by Nuclear Waste Services)

• No Name Travel. Outward Bound, Atkins Realis and Workington Community Trust.
• Cumbria Community Foundation & Sellafield Ltd