THE Evening Gazette, The Journal and Business Link are passionate about business in our region and we want you to be too.

Dec 1 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

The nebusiness awards are now in their 10th year of the regional format and at their heart are the aims of recognising achievement, encouraging excellence and celebrating success.

These aims are shared by the “Passionate people Passionate places” campaign which promotes our region as a great place to live, study, work and invest.

Part of the success of the campaign has been down to businesses and people “talking up” North-east England and we need this to continue. To play your part in Passionate people Passionate places, visit www.northeastengland.co.uk/ambassadors

The current phase of activity is focusing on the region’s business strengths and letting the world know about our success stories. Entering these awards is a fantastic way to help spread the word, see below for details.

The aim of the awards

THE awards aim to recognise achievement, to encourage excellence and to celebrate success.

The sponsors

THE awards are sponsored by a whole host of companies and organisations. The sheer quality and the blue-chip nature of the sponsors adds to the prestige and gravitas of the awards.

The judging

EACH award has a separate judging panel with an appropriate chairperson, nominated by the award sponsor. The decision of each judging panel is final and, while every effort will be made to give feedback to entrants, no specific correspondence will be entered into.

The dinners

Durham and Wearside - March 11, 2010; Tyneside and Northumberland - March 18; Tees Valley - March 25; Regional Final - April 29.

The categories

Best Creative Business Award - sponsored by Arts Council England, North East.

Company of the Year - sponsored by Deloitte, KPMG and One NorthEast.

Corporate Responsibility and Environment Award - sponsored by eaga plc, NEPIC and Northeast Biofuels and Groundwork North East.

Employer of the Year - sponsored by Public Health North East.

Export Award - sponsored by UK Trade & Investment.

Innovation Award - sponsored by County Durham Development Company, OneDoor Network and Nomad Digital.

Internet & ICT Award - sponsored by Pearsons.

Learning, Training & Skills Award - sponsored by Newcastle College, University of Sunderland, Teesside University and Train to Gain.

Manufacturing Award - sponsored by Port of Tyne, Sunderland City Council and ABB.

Newcomer of the Year.

Not-for-profit Organisation of the Year.

Services Award - sponsored by Hay & Kilner Solicitors and Middlesbrough College.

Small Business Award - sponsored by Royal Mail.

To become a sponsor contact Kirsty Tarn, events manager on 0191 201 6072.

How to enter

COMPANIES and organisations can enter a maximum of three separate categories. Entries must relate to activity during 2009. Awards are open to companies of all sizes and organisations with a significant presence in any of the sub-regions.

The closing date for entries is 5pm on January 15, 2010. Nominations can be made online at: www.nebusinessawards.co.uk

Queries can be answered by Kirsty Tarn, events manager, ncjMedia Ltd, Groat Market, Newcastle, NE1 1ED. Tel 0191 201 6072 or email: kirsty.tarn@ncjmedia.co.uk