Could you be named employer of the year?
Oct 14 2009 By The Journal
THE best companies know that their most important asset is their staff and the nebusiness awards aim to recognise the achievements of the very best businesses in the North East.
Those who stand out in ensuring they look after their workforce have a chance to be named Employer of the Year the awards, which are organised by The Journal and the Evening Gazette in association with Business Link.
The award aims to recognise, encourage and reward organisations which make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of employees.
It will go to an organisation that can demonstrate it has shown a commitment to their staff through human resources policies, training and skills, personal development and the working environment – and how this has led to organisational success.
Last year’s winner was Cummins, the Darlington engine manufacturer after it opened an on-site fitness centre and gym and ran a series of health promotions on issues such as smoking cessation and blood pressure.
The company has a range of committees and working groups dedicated to health and safety and has invested £80,000 in new facilities for learning and training.
The company, which employs nearly 1,000 staff, is part of a multi-billion pound US corporation which is currently working on expansion through focusing on more environmentally friendly diesel engines.
The Employer of the Year Award is just one of 12 categories open to successful firms in the region and the awards are highly sought after accolades which help to market the company and give staff an even greater sense of pride in their work.
We will champion the most promising new businesses with a Newcomer of the Year Award. As we spur the region to export with our Go Global campaign we mark exceptional efforts to sell overseas with the Export Award. We reward the cleverest commercial ideas with the Innovation Award. We find the manufacturing companies beating the slump to show exceptional performance with the Manufacturing Award.
We will celebrate corporate achievements in helping communities and the environment with the Corporate Responsibility and Environment Award. We will recognise the efforts of companies to look after their staff with the Employer of the Year Award and the Learning, Training and Skills rewards their work to improve their staff. We find the best use of new technology in the Internet and ICT Award. We highlight those who best look after their most important resource in the Employer Award, arts businesses will be recognised in the Best Creative Business Award and we will reflect professional achievements outside the private sector with the Not For Profit Organisation of the Year Award.
And as ever the coveted Company of the Year Award will look at a firm’s achievements over a wide range of criteria to find a model business.
Since 2001 when the sub-regional heats were launched, around 1,700 companies have entered one of the award categories. That is a fantastic endorsement of the event and shows that the event really means something to the business community. The roll call of big names who sponsor and provide more than 100 category judges gives the event credibility and gravitas. They are all senior people in the region and they bring integrity, professionalism and diligence to arguably the most important part of the business awards event – ensuring we get the right winners.
The competition will have heats to find the foremost businesses from the three sub-regions of the North East. The judges are looking for entries from right across the region, from Tees Valley to the Borders, with competitions running for Tyneside and Northumberland, Durham and Wearside and Tees Valley before the regional grand final that will reveal the best of the best.
Page 2: Celebrating Business Success in North East England
