THOSE who have made their workplaces and the wider world a fairer place will be recognised tonight.

A wide range of finalists in the 2012 North East Equality Awards, including companies, colleges, probation workers and even Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue, will discover who has been successful.

The awards, now in their ninth year, have looked far and wide for those who have succeeded in promoting equality and diversity in the region.

Liz Reay, chief executive of organiser Equality North East, will address the finalists and their supporters in the Newcastle Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park.

“Once again we had a record-breaking number of applications and the standard is getting higher every year,” she said.

“Employers are still seeing the benefits of good-equality practice and are going to impressive lengths to embed fairness into their organisations.”

One of last year’s winners, Doug Glass, managing director of Milbank Architects, said: “We are committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity within our workforce.

“Working with people who have learning disabilities or difficulties has increased staff awareness of the diverse society we live and work in.

“This in turn will roll out to family and friends, increasing their knowledge and help towards removing barriers and stigmas.

“We have certainly found that this is good for everyone as well as business.”