A local company is in the running to be named one of the best rural businesses in the UK after being shortlisted for a regional Rural Business Award.

The Rural Law Practice, part of Thomson Hayton Winkley, from Cumbria has been shortlisted in the North Category at the 2019/20 Rural Business Awards, held in partnership with Amazon. The local company will battle it out against fellow rural businesses, entrepreneurs and enterprises from across the region for a place at the national final.

The Rural Law Practice is part of Thomson Hayton Winkley solicitors. It employs 10 people and has an office at J36 North West Auctions specialising in agricultural law. RLP was originally founded by Nigel Davis, an expert in Agricultural Tenancies, and the practice merged with Thomson Hayton Winkley in 2016. It has steadily grown as a business, focusing on the needs of agricultural and rural clients from across Cumbria, North Lancashire and North Yorkshire region, as well as much further afield.

The Rural Business Awards 2019/20, in partnership with Amazon, will mark the Awards’ fifth year of celebrating the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy – a segment which employs in excess of 3.4 million people in over 750,000 businesses in England alone. The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business with the aim of celebrating the achievements of rural businesses and developing a strong network for rural business owners.

Speaking after being shortlisted for an award, John Cooke, Director, at Thomson Hayton Winkley said:

“This is fantastic news for the Rural Law Practice. We have developed the business over the last 3 years and now have a growing and dedicated team that focuses its time on all aspects of rural, agricultural and agri- business law. We are based at the auction market at J36 and this allows us to very accessible to the clients we serve. Being short listed for this prestigious award is a great accolade for the team and recognition of all their hard work and expertise.”

Director and Co-Founder of The Rural Business Awards, Anna Price, said: “The 2019/20 Awards have seen record numbers of entries and it’s encouraging to see so many rural businesses express a desire to celebrate their successes on a regional and national scale. We are passionate about creating a nurturing environment where rural businesses can develop, and this starts by showcasing the great work they do. On behalf of everyone at the Rural Business Awards, we want to say well done to The Rural Law Practice, and all the shortlisted businesses, and wish them luck ahead of the regional finals.”

The Rural Business Awards is the brainchild of Leicestershire businesswomen Anna Price and Jemma Clifford, who wanted to showcase the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in rural areas of Britain.

The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with winners in the 12 categories - ranging from Best Rural Start-up and Best Rural Diversification Project; through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and Rural Digital, Communications or Media Business - decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.

The Rural Business Awards is hosting a series of regional finals in the North, East, Midlands, South East, South West, Wales and Northern Ireland, throughout October and November 2019, ahead of the National Final next February.