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Finalists represent best of North East business ; AWARDS [Newcastle Journal (England)](Newcastle Journal (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) AFTER weeks of judging nominations from outstanding companies from around the region, today we are proud to reveal the finalists of this year's North East Business Awards. Organised by the The Journal and its sister paper Teesside's Evening Gazette, the annual event, held in association with the North East Chamber of Commerce, aims to highlight the inspiring work of businesses, small, large and somewhere in between throughout the past 12 months. Judges from the sponsor companies have once again had a difficult task in selecting the best from hundreds of entries before drawing up an impressive list of finalists. The competition begins with heats to find the foremost businesses from the three sub-regions of the North East, with prizes going to finalists in each category for Tyneside and Northumberland, Durham and Wearside, and Teesside, before the regional grand final that will reveal the best of the best. This year, there are 99 finalists in 11 award categories, covering a wide range of sectors, and amply demonstrating the now well-documented growth of the North East economy at long last. Every one epitomises the entrepreneurial drive, innovation, financial acumen and ambition that characterises the region's dynamic business environment, providing inspiration to many others that continued to deal with challenging times. The winners will be announced at black-tie dinners in top venues across the region, where companies can not only cheer on the shortlisted, but take part in some valuable networking at some of the biggest events in the local business calendar. There are still tables left for each event but all are being booked up fast, so interested companies are encouraged to make their reservations quickly. THE DINNERS ? Durham & Wearside - Ramside Hall Hotel, County Durham, March 6. Tyneside & Northumberland - Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, March 20. Teesside - Olympia Building, Teesside University, April 3. Regional Final - Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, May 1. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To find out more about the sponsorship packages, contact Sue Coulson on 0191 201 6072 or email [email protected] To book your table visit www. nebusinessawards.co.uk THE FINALISTS 2014 DURHAM & WEARSIDE Company of the Year, sponsored by Business Durham CreateCity t/a Franks the Flooring Store Elddis Transport (Consett) Ltd Sonnet 43 Brew House Small Business Award BMS Electrical Lasercutouts Oil Consultants Ltd Export Award Haskel Europe Ltd MediTek Ltd Oil Consultants Ltd ? Innovation Award, sponsored by North East Business Innovation Centre Emerald Biogas Jordan Valley UK Phoenixabc Ltd Internet & ICT Award Fancy Dress Costumes for Kids Sirens Zine Newcomer of the Year, spon-sored by Virgin Money Emerald Biogas Goodfellow and Goodfellow Lingotot Heart of the Community Award, sponsored by Alex Smiles Ltd Groundworks Elddis Transport (Consett) Ltd Meldrum Construction Services Ltd ? Low Carbon, Corporate Responsibility & Environment Award, sponsored by University of Sunderland Alex Smiles Ltd JC Atkinson & Son Ltd John Warren ABP Ltd Manufacturing Award, spon-sored by South West Durham Training Ebac Group Ltd Haskel Europe Ltd Peterlee Glass Apprenticeship Award, spon-sored by Esh Group Derwentside Homes Ltd Hodgson Sayers Ltd Shine Consultants Services Award John Warren ABP Ltd Medical Services (North East) Ltd Sirens TYNESIDE & NORTHUMBERLAND Company of the Year, sponsored by Deloitte AAF Nixon Hire Vertu Motors Small Business Award, spon-sored by Bernicia The Bazaar Group Chirton Engineering Solar Capture Technology Export Award, sponsored by Port of Tyne Global Manufacturing Solutions Mactech Engineering and Inspection SMD Innovation Award, sponsored by North Star Ventures Bestpricepurchase Ltd Eutechnyx Tier One Capital Internet & ICT Award The Bazaar Group Designer Desirables Pink Boutique Ltd Newcomer of the Year, spon-sored by Virgin Money Collingwood Legal Kykloud Ltd Pink Boutique Ltd Heart of the Community Award Ignite 100 Muckle LLP North East Procurement (NEP) ? Low Carbon, Corporate Responsibility & Environment Award Advanced Renewable Power Nestle South Tyneside Homes Manufacturing Award, spon-sored by FW Capital Astley Chirton Engineering Rettig UK Apprenticeship Award Ford Houghton International North East Procurement (NEP) Services Award, sponsored by Newcastle International Airport Activ PII Pipeline Solutions Vic Young TEESSIDE Company of the Year, sponsored by FW Capital Applied Integration UK Ltd Hertel UK Nifco (UK) Ltd Small Business Award Ecco Finishing Supplies Espresso Web Design PJA Distribution Export Award, sponsored by UKTI CorDEX Instruments Ltd Glanbia Nutritionals TTE International Ltd Innovation Award, sponsored by Nifco (UK) Ltd CatalySystems Ltd Mobile Rock.it Ltd Skignz Ltd Internet & ICT Award, spon-sored by TEESSIDE University Hospitality Guaranteed Purple Creative Studio Visualsoft eCommerce Newcomer of the Year, spon-sored by Virgin Money Avec Partnerships Ltd PJA Distribution Steel River Consultants Heart of the Community Award, sponsored by TTE International Ltd Castlegate Shopping Centre C&A Pumps & Engineering Ltd Cummins Ltd ? Low Carbon, Corporate Responsibility & Environment Award, sponsored by Middlesbrough College J & B Recycling Ltd Middleton Hall Retirement Village Returnable Packaging Services Ltd Manufacturing Award, spon-sored by ABB Consulting Applied Integration UK Ltd Nifco (UK) Ltd Nobia UK - Darlington Manufacturing Apprenticeship Award, spon-sored by Tees Valley Unlimited Industrial & Marine Hydraulics Nifco (UK) Ltd Vela Group Services Award Blackwells of Norton Evolution Business and Tax Advisors LLP - Chartered Accountants Lemon Business Solutions Ltd GUEST SPEAKERS Tim FitzHigham Speaking at: Durham & Wearside Business Awards Tim FitzHigham became a world record holder when he crossed the English Channel in a Crapper bathtub. Rowing single- handedly, he left the coast of France at 4am and arrived at Folkestone at 1pm that afternoon. He then continued the journey through Kent to Tower Bridge, tackling the final 120 miles with a broken shoulder. To celebrate this feat of seamanship, Thomas Crapper & Co named a loo after him - the first commemorative lavatory since Queen Victoria's Jubilee. In a similarly generous gesture FitzHigham has published In The Bath, a handy guide to those considering following in his footsteps. Describing himself as a 'shenaniganist', Tim stands out loud and proud in the roll call of British eccentrics. He broke a 383-year-old maritime record by rowing a boat made entirely of paper 160 miles along the Thames; and he has run the longest distance in a suit of armour - across the desert plains of La Mancha in Spain. Steph McGovern Speaking at: Tyneside & Northumberland Business Awards Over the past 10 years Steph has reported on business and finance from around the world. Originally from Middlesbrough, McGovern's first TV appearance was on a programme about women in science just after she'd won the title of Young Engineer for Britain, after saving Black & Decker over Pounds 1m on a design she did for their Leaf Hog product. This led to work experience on Tomorrow's World and, eventually, to producing the financial news on Radio 4's Today programme. During the financial crash Steph was the lead producer of business news on all BBC bulletins, working with business editor Robert Peston at the forefront of the award-winning coverage of the credit crunch. She soon began broadcasting herself, presenting on 5Live and hosting her own slot - Steph's Sunday Shift - where she spent time in over 50 different workplaces across the UK. McGovern is now well known as the business reporter for BBC Breakfast. Julia Hartley-Brewer Speaking at: Teesside Business Awards Hartley-Brewer began her career in journalism at the East London Advertiser in Bethnal Green. She then moved on to be a news reporter and political correspondent for the London Evening Standard followed by a stint with The Guardian, and is also a former political editor, assistant editor and columnist on the Sunday Express. She is now the weekday afternoon presenter on LBC 97.3 radio in London, hosting a mix of interviews and phone-in debates. Renowned as being one of the funniest speakers to come out of Westminster, Hartley-Brewer has regular guest TV appearances on everything from Have I Got News For You? to Question Time to This Morning, and the News Quiz and the Now Show on radio. She is a respected political commentator and has an intimate knowledge of Westminster's leading characters, often revealing what really goes on in the corridors of power. Monty Halls Speaking at: North East Business Awards Final Monty Halls is a former Royal Marines officer who worked for Nelson Mandela on the peace process in South Africa. He left the services in 1996 to pursue a career in leading expeditions. He has circumnavigated the globe four times on various projects, leading multi-national teams in some of the most demanding environments on earth. His television career began when he won Channel 4's Superhuman competition in 2004 and since then he has presented a number of series and documentaries including Journey to the Centre of the Earth for Channel 4 and Unchartered Territories for ITV. His most recent project is his Great Escape series for BBC2. In the first series, he lived in a tiny bothy on a beach on the west coast of Scotland for six months, following in the footsteps of his hero Gavin Maxwell. In his second series - Great Hebridean Escape - Halls embarked on an even greater challenge, living and working in the Outer Hebrides as a volunteer wildlife ranger. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |