Gathering at the offices of David Allen on Barras Lane in Dalston near Carlisle, the judges faced a morning of tough decisions as they pored over the highest number of business awards entries for several years. "Being able to judge the awards, as well as selecting our NRL Nuclear Ambassador Award recipient, is such a rewarding activity. The judging panel for the in-Cumbria Business Awards 2026 at the David Allen offices in Dalston (Image: NQ)The categories for the 2026 in-Cumbria Business Awards are:BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEARSponsored by: Rachael Bell Wealth ManagementA business leader who has made an outstanding contribution to their company in the last year, demonstrating exceptional commitment, inspirational leadership and vision. BUSINESS OF THE YEARSponsored by: Cartmell Shepherd SolicitorsAn exceptional business that has demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership and contributions in its industry. RETAIL/LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OF THE YEARA business in the retail, leisure, or hospitality sector that has demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and success - with exceptional commitment to customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and community engagement.