A FAST-GROWING family business was last night named the Durham & Wearside Company of the Year in the region’s biggest and best business awards.
Washington-based air filter manufacturer Walker Filtration beat Fishburn-based stairlift maker Meditek and Darlington-based subsea cable specialist Tekmar to the top prize in the third heat of the nebusiness awards 2010.
It is the second time the 28-year-old firm has won the title in the awards, organised by The Journal and The Evening Gazette in association with Business & Enterprise North East.
The firm, founded by husband and wife team Brian and Carol Walker and headed by their daughter Lianne Walker as group general manager, also won in 2008.
The company sells compressed air filtration and drying equipment for compressed gas, vacuum and medical work, and it has won national recognition for exporting.
It sells about 90% of its output overseas and is the only firm in the UK to have won the Queen’s Award for International Trade three times.
In 2009 Lianne Walker got an MBE for her services to manufacturing and international trade in the 2008 New Year’s Honours List. She was following in her father’s footsteps for he was awarded an MBE in 2001.
The business, which sells to more than 60 countries, has expanded its Washington factory and aims to record revenues of more than £25m in the next few years.
The company was one of nine to celebrate taking the top prize in their category at the black-tie ceremony at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland last night. All of the winners in this last of three sub-regional finals will go through with those from Tyneside & Northumberland and Teesside to the grand regional final at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield on April 14.
That will see Walker Filtration judged against Newcastle-based de-icer manufacturer Kilfrost and Stockton-based car part maker Nifco for the title of North East Company of the Year 2010.
Journal editor Brian Aitken gave last night’s keynote address.
He said: “It may still be tough for many businesses but the successes we are celebrating tonight are all the more impressive for that.
“These awards showcase the fantastic achievements of businesses of all sizes who have what it takes to shine even in the most challenging economic climate.
“The nebusiness awards for 2010 will once again prove that there are hundreds of businesses across the region doing great things, achieving impressive results and demonstrating world-class qualities.”
Guest speaker was Sunderland AFC chairman Niall Quinn MBE.
To find out more about all the winners of the nebusiness awards, see our 36-page supplement in the Journal on April 6.
Visit the website www.nebusinessawards.co.uk, or contact Kirsty Tarn on 0191 201 6072.
