Northern stars who don’t chase a profit

Jan 19 2010 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

PROFIT may be king for many companies.

But there are a lot of businesses and organisations which, despite running tight financial operations, are not interested in making money for their own sake.

Charities and public sector bodies such as universities or councils, work primarily to provide a public service as successfully and efficiently as they can.

But this doesn’t mean they are not largely run like other businesses.

The nebusiness awards, which are organised by the Evening Gazette and The Journal in association with Business Link, recognise the qualities of these groups and highlight the talent, acumen and hard work which is vital to them.

So we have launched the Not-For-Profit Award this year to shine a light on the work being done across the region, which would be the envy of many a private sector manager.

The title replaces the Public Sector Award.

At the 2008 honours Coast & Country, based in Redcar, took the Tees Valley crown.

In Durham and Wearside Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities of Spennymoor was crowned the winner.

But it was Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums that took the top regional title after first winning at the Tyneside and Northumberland dinner.

The organisation is in charge of running 12 museums and attractions and is backed by five councils on Tyneside and Wearside.

It runs high-profile tourist and cultural attractions including Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, the Laing Art Gallery and Discovery in Newcastle and the Segedunum Roman Fort and Baths in North Tyneside.

Entries have now closed for the majority of categories for the 2009 nebusiness awards, but there is still time to enter the Not-For-Profit Award - as well as the Best Creative Business Award.

Both titles are open to companies and organisation across the North-east, but are only awarded at the regional final, so organisers have extended the entry deadline until March 15.