Family firm with plenty to celebrate
Mar 17 2009 By Andrew Mernin
THE family which runs Walker Filtration capped a fantastic day of success when they picked up the Durham and Wearside Company of the Year award last night.
The Washington manufacturing business took the top title in the first heat of the region’s most prestigious business awards, beating acrylic maker Esschem Europe and medical report handling firm UK Independent Medical.
Walker’s success in the awards, organised by
Lianne, who for the last four years has led the company founded by her father Brian Walker MBE in 1983, was delighted at the recognition for her growing company.
Mark Welsh, group financial controller, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s been hard work but it’s good to get something like this. It lifts the general doom and gloom.
“It’s a tribute to the hard work of all the staff. We were close last year, but now we’ve done it.”
Walker Filtration employs 150 staff making hi-tech filtration products for the compressed air and gas market together with a range of products designed for the medical sector.
The past three years have seen the company increase sales by 58%, which includes a 76% increase in exports. The company is now a world-leading manufacturer in its markets and exports account for 85% of its sales.
The company was just one of 10 which celebrated taking the top prize in their category at the black tie ceremony at the Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham last night.
Hundreds of business executives packed the hotel ballroom to cheer on the winners who were introduced by writer, broadcaster, humorist and business guru Guy Browning.
All of the winners in this first of three sub-regional finals will go through with those from Tyneside & Northumberland and Tees Valley to the grand regional final at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield on April 30.
There were hundreds of entries again this year for the North East’s biggest and best business awards, which have this year been relaunched as the nebusiness awards with new awards categories.
Steve Brown, ncjmedia managing director, said: “Celebrating success seems curiously at odds with the doom and gloom pervading the financial news.
“But it is actually more important than ever that we continue to provide a platform for North East businesses to showcase their strengths and achievements.
“The nebusiness awards for 2008 will once again prove that there are hundreds of businesses across the region doing great things, achieving impressive results and demonstrating world-class qualities.”
