Let’s all bang the drum for region

Jan 7 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

There are just three days left for you to make sure your company has a chance of winning the North East’s biggest and best business awards. Alastair McColl, the man at the head of associate sponsor Business & Enterprise North East, explains why it is an opportunity you cannot ignore.

THE nebusiness awards 2008, now in their ninth year and organised by The Journal and Evening Gazette, are a prestigious highlight in North East England’s corporate calendar and Business Link is proud to be the associate sponsor for the second year running.

The awards aim to recognise achievement, encourage excellence and celebrate success, goals that are of huge significance in such challenging times.

With considerable emphasis placed on the economic slowdown, it is easy for the positive stories we need to stimulate growth and spread confidence to get overshadowed.

The awards are an opportunity to bang the drum for the region and remind ourselves that we have much to celebrate. At Business Link we believe it is crucial to shout about our successes and show the world that the North East really means business and can thrive and grow, providing high-quality products and services to domestic and international markets, despite the tough economic conditions.

The nebusiness awards 2008 are a great illustration of the strength, creativity and diversity that exists in the economy of North East England.

With 11 categories open to entrants, ranging from Company of the Year to the Small Business Award, there is an opportunity for companies in every sector, from start-up to established, to celebrate their achievements and compete for recognition as one of the region’s best.

Our economy is built on the foundations of winning, successful companies and it is crucial that we share and promote excellence and set an example that will inspire others. There has never been a better time to get involved and make a difference and I urge as many companies as possible to enter.

Not only are the nebusiness awards great for the region as a whole, they can also be of considerable benefit to individual companies. Being part of the awards is a great way to promote your company and communicate its achievements to customers and partners and boost morale by reminding staff of the positive contribution they have made throughout the year.

At Business Link we know that these are difficult times but we need to keep reminding businesses about the positives and build confidence for the future.

Business Link provides free, independent information and advice to help new businesses get up and running and to help established businesses to learn new skills, improve efficiency and raise competitiveness. We now have more business-facing advisers than ever before and our priority is to offer practical and relevant support, swiftly and efficiently, that will help to shape and grow every type and size of enterprise.

A national Business Link customer satisfaction survey recently confirmed our region’s service to be the best in the country and during this financial year Business Link will help more than 32,000 companies and people starting businesses, which is more than ever before.

We have the absolute belief that we can make this region the very best in Europe in which to start or grow a business.

Everything we do is geared towards ensuring that we turn that ambition into a fact and the nebusiness awards share our ideals and desire to make this region the very best.

The awards showcase the fact that the region’s economy is more vigorous and diverse than ever before and the organisation and support is in place to ensure long-term viability and growth.

Business Link has put in place a comprehensive package of support for the region’s businesses in 2009, with specific support in place for these businesses affected by the economic downturn.

These are unique and testing times and we will be doing everything possible to make sure North East business gets the assistance it requires to ensure the region remains the best place in the UK to start, grow and develop a business. But this adversity will also bring with it opportunities which businesses in the North East will be well equipped to take advantage of. Go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast for more information about how Business Link can help your business or call (0845) 600-9006.

The Journal and Evening Gazette, organisers of the nebusiness awards 2008, are great supporters of local business and without them this prestigious event wouldn’t be able to happen.

The nebusiness awards 2008 are an opportunity for companies from start-up to established, in every sector, to show the world that the North East of England is the place to do business. Each sub-regional area – Durham and Wearside, Tyneside and Northumberland and Tees Valley – will hold heats in March and the winning companies will go through to the regional gala dinner final at Hardwick Hall on Thursday, April 30. There is still time to take part and the closing date for entries is this Friday. Good luck.

Let’s make this the most successful event yet with more entries and outstanding achievers than ever before. For information on how to enter the nebusiness awards 2008, go to www.northeastbusinessawards.co.uk or call (0191) 201-6072.

Alastair McColl is chief executive of Business & Enterprise North East, which runs the Business Link service in the North East