We salute spirit in testing times
Oct 22 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal
THE best companies know that their most important asset is their staff and the nebusiness awards aim to recognise the achievements of the very best businesses in the North East.
This year the awards, which are organised by The Journal and the Evening Gazette in association with Business Link in the North East, have been given a fresh new look.
And there are new award categories this year, including Employer of the Year for the company or organisation that can demonstrate it truly looks after its workforce.
The award aims to recognise, encourage and reward organisations which make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of employees.
The award will be made to an organisation that can demonstrate it has shown a commitment to the health and wellbeing of staff through human resources policies, training and skills, personal development and the working environment – and how this has led to organisational success. The new category is one of the important changes to these well-established and prestigious awards which have made their name as the biggest and best regional business awards in the UK.
We asked bosses what they wanted from the nebusiness awards and as well as Employer of the Year we have created three other new categories to reflect the changing nature of the region’s economy.
We will champion the most promising new businesses with a Newcomer of the Year Award. We will celebrate corporate achievements in helping communities and the environment with the Corporate Responsibility and Environment Award. We will reflect professional achievements outside the private sector with the Public Sector Organisation of the Year Award.
The awards ceremonies, which have earned a place as highlights of the region’s corporate calendar, have also been given an exciting makeover with all heats and the final hosted by renowned humorist, writer and business guru Guy Browning.
It has been a tough year for every company, large and small, but although the economic slowdown has claimed a number of notable corporate casualties, it has also given an opportunity for many others to show they have what it takes to flourish in the most testing conditions.
The awards, as ever, reward the outstanding achievements of companies ranging from small family firms to the largest multinationals.
The competition will have heats to find the foremost businesses from the three sub-regions of the North East.
The judges are looking for entries from right across the region, from Tees Valley to the Borders, with competitions running for Tyneside and Northumberland, Durham and Wearside and Tees Valley before the regional grand final that will reveal the best of the best.
Companies which have been successful in past years have found the awards inspire pride in their workforce, admiration from the regional business community and raise their profile and reputation across the country. The 12 award categories mean there is something for everyone.
No matter how small or large your company, no matter what sector you operate in – if you’ve achieved something you’re proud of, there will be a category you can enter. The best of the best will go through to compete for the prestigious title of North East Company of the Year.
Since 2001, when the sub-regional heats began, more than 1,300 companies have entered one of the award categories. That is a fantastic endorsement of the event and shows it really means something to the business community.
And the roll call of big names sponsoring the awards and providing more than 100 category judges gives the event credibility and gravitas.
They are all senior people in the region and they bring integrity, professionalism and diligence to arguably the most important part of the business awards event – ensuring we get the right winners.
Click here to enter the nebusiness awards 2008.
