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HUSBAND AND WIFE RAISE THEIR GLASSES TO AWARD NOMINATION

A married couple are the toast of their town after the success of their new beer delivery company landed them a top business award nomination. 

Paul and Andrea Johnson started Northumbria Real Ales in April this year and have already clocked 20,000 miles taking a taste of the North East to clients across England. Real ale lovers from Kent to Cumbria are now enjoying beers that they haven’t previously been able to sample. Rather than returning empty handed from their trips, Paul and Andrea stock their van with ales from local breweries and bring them back to the North East for distribution.

Northumbria Real Ales is one of over 160 start-up business to receive funding from Go Wansbeck, the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. The support on offer enabled the new company to expand and grow its successful business model.  

Andrea and Paul were thrilled when their success resulted in Northumbria Real Ales being shortlisted in the Best New Business category at the Rio Tinto Alcan Wansbeck Business Awards which recognise and celebrate the growing business community in the area. Paul said: “To have been in the running for an award after only a few months of establishing our first business was brilliant – it has given us a confidence boost and we are really excited about the future. We’ve now got contracts at 35 breweries all over the country, we’ve been able to take on two staff and are receiving positive feedback all the time.”

Organised by the Wansbeck Business Forum the third Wansbeck Business Awards  attracted entrants from across the district which was named the most enterprising place in the North East in the prestigious Enterprising Britain competition earlier this year.

Ken Hastie, manager of the Wansbeck Business Forum, said: “Northumbria Real Ales is a fantastic example of a successful new business set-up by a determined and enthusiastic couple. We were extremely impressed in the range and quality of entries that were received for this year’s awards – it’s great to see Paul and Andrea enjoying their business venture and we wish them luck as they continue to grow.”                                       

For further information about the business support and advice on offer in Wansbeck visit www.gowansbeck.co.uk or call 01670 842888.

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