Transport boss collects award
The success of companies in the region has been celebrated at the North-East Chamber of Commerce Awards.
Mitchell Trucking Company Ltd won the coveted title of Business of the Year.
The Middlesbrough company started in 2003 with two trucks, one van and four staff and now has 21 employees working on in-house transport, logistics, overnight pallet distribution and warehousing.
Founder Gordon Mitchell said: "This award is down to the team around me and the team I have is excellent."
The judges paid tribute to Mr Mitchell's understanding of his business and the marketplace and said the company had "really focused on what it wants to achieve and had good long term expansion plans".
The third Chamber Awards, held at Redworth Hall Hotel in County Durham before an audience of 120 guests, were open to all chamber members, from sole traders to multi-nationals.
The six category winners will represent the region in the national finals in London in November to compete for the Microsoft Award for Outstanding Business Achievement and a top prize of £25,000.
North-East Chamber of Commerce chief executive James Ramsbotham said: "The range of entries this year was genuinely very high. We are proud that this chamber produced more entrants than any other region in the country, which is testament to the strength of the private sector in the North-East."
The winners and runners-up were:
Business of the Year: Mitchell Trucking Company Ltd, Middlesbrough; runner-up: AquaJoy Bathlifts Ltd, Consett.
Skills and Workforce Development Award: Powder & Liquid Products Ltd, of Consett; runner-up: Shark Group, of Morpeth. Entrepreneur of the Year: The Write Research Company Ltd, of Annitsford, Cramlington; runner-up: Right Hand HR Ltd, of Newcastle.
Export Business of the Year: Gate 7, Gateshead; runner-up: Hart Biologicals, Hartlepool. Microsoft Award for Innovation through Technology: Opsec Security Ltd, of Washington; runner-up: Indigo Multimedia Ltd.
Most Promising New Business: Comesys Europe Ltd, Cramlington: runner-up: Paragon Rapid Technologies.
