TEESDALE Cheesemakers has celebrated a double win after snapping up two major awards in the same week.
The Copley-based business, run by Allison and Jonathan Raper, was named best North East micro-business of the year by the Federation of Small Business at an awards ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel, in Gateshead, on Monday, March 28.
The win means they will go on to represent the region in the national finals which are being held in Scotland in May.
Then three days later they were awarded a bronze in the North East Tourism awards in the taste category at a glitzy ceremony in Newcastle.
Mrs Raper said: “As you can imagine we are both absolutely delighted – running a hospitality business for the last two years has been a challenge.
“These awards not only tell us we’re doing a lot of things right; they give us the confidence to continue to grow and provide secure employment for local people.”
She added: “These are new areas for us and for the Federation of Small Business to say that you are doing well, makes you feel like you are on the right track. And when the tourist board places you, it feels like you are doing
the right thing in tourism as well.”
Earlier in the year Teesdale Cheesemakers’ Doris cheese was listed in the top 100 in England by acclaimed cheese and wine expert Steve Parker, author of British Cheese on Toast.
Mrs Raper added: “We nearly didn’t go to the awards but we though the last two years we haven’t had much opportunity to get out and mix with other businesses.
“We decided to go to Newcastle for the experience, so getting a bronze was amazing.”
Since restrictions were relaxed, the couple have expanded by adding glamping studio lodges, coining the term “cheese and tranquility” .
