Still time left to enter awards

Nov 28 2007 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

WITH just 10 days to go, companies are being urged to submit entries for the region’s most prestigious business awards.

The winners in North-East Business Awards 2007 will be announced at a black-tie dinner at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, on May 1 next year.

In the run-up to the awards – which are organised by The Journal and its sister paper the Evening Gazette – regional heats will take place for companies in three distinct areas of the region.

Winners in 12 categories will be unveiled at each of the heats for the following areas; Tyneside and Northumberland, the Tees Valley and Durham and Wearside.

The 36 winners from the sub-regional heats will all then go forward to compete in the final.

Last year’s overall North-East Company of the Year was Newcastle-based oil pipe company Wellstream International, recognising a year in which it floated on the stock market and expanded its business globally.

Since winning the award, the company has gone on to bigger and better things, having recently won a series of major contracts and revealed plans to invest £35m in expanding capacity at its factories in Newcastle and Brazil.

Steve Brown, regional managing director of Trinity Mirror Group (owners of The Journal and Evening Gazette), said: “The race for the 2007 Business Awards is under way and it should be the best ever.”

Alistair MacColl, chief executive of sponsors Business Link, said: “Each year the North-East Business Awards provide us with a unique opportunity to celebrate business excellence in our region.

“It’s a chance for businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to demonstrate their ambition and achievement.”