[C]umbrian bus and coach company Reays are Wembley winners after being named the best family business in the north west.
The Wigton-based firm emerged victorious at the famous football stadium when it hosted the 2017 National Family Business Awards, beating off hundreds of other family-owned firms to take the regional title.
Owners Chris and Nicola Reay were unable to attend the ceremony in London on Saturday evening (JULY 15), so the award was presented to Rosie Groves, Reays’ marketing and sales assistant, and her colleague Shakayla Hayden-Okesene, HR administrator.
“It was a big surprise to win. We weren’t expecting it. I really wished someone had taken a picture of our faces when they announced it. I nearly cried!” said Rosie.
“When the host started her speech by talking about the owner’s enthusiasm for the company and about getting young people on board, I knew it was us who’d won,” said Shakayla.
Formerly the Red Ribbon Awards, the national accolades were renamed this year to reflect their growing reputation for recognising the most outstanding family businesses throughout the UK and Ireland. Awarded to the best independent family-owned businesses, more than 350 guests attended the presentation evening at Wembley, the home of champions.
Anita Brightley-Hodges, who founded the awards in 2009, said: “With so much economic uncertainty looming and in a country where large corporates have such power, it’s crucial that we support and protect our independent businesses – the backbone of Britain’s economy.”
Reays employs around 140 staff and operates 90 coaches, buses and cars, with depots in Egremont and Penrith as well as its headquarters at Wigton. It runs one of the biggest fleets of private hire coaches in the north of England and the award-winning City Hopper bus network in Carlisle, along with school and private bus services across Cumbria. Reays’ clients include Sellafield and Burnley FC.
