NORTH Yorkshire cheese maker Judy Bell has been shortlisted for a Lifetime Achievement Award.

She is on a high-profile short list of five finalists in the Red Ribbon Awards 2012, organised by Family Business Place, which also includes Lord Harris of Peckham, founder of Carpetright; Bryn and Emma Parry, Help the Heroes; Charlie Mullins, Pimlico Plumbers and Pratibha Sachder of Lifestyle Care.

The awards aim to recognise the achievements of family businesses throughout the country, both large and small,l with the lifetime category dedicated to someone who has made a major impact on the world of family business during their career.

The winner will be announced after the annual Family Ties business conference at a ceremony and charity dinner in London on November 23.

Mrs Bell, who founded the multi-award winning Shepherds Purse in Thirsk more than 25 years ago, is a past speaker at the Family Ties Conference.

She works tirelessly to champion family-run and small businesses and was recently part of a 90-strong group of Northern Real Life Entrepreneurs from the Federation of Small Businesses who marched on Parliament to push the Government to act on its promises to remove barriers to growth for small business owners.

She was invited to be one of the speakers to address Shadow Small Business Minister Toby Perkins to outline what practical steps can be taken to improve the confidence of small business owners and what action needs to be taken.

Mrs Bell became chairman of Shepherds Purse earlier this year and handed its running to her daughters, Katie Matten and Caroline Bell.