High flier is worthy winner in the final
Feb 29 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal
NEWCASTLE International Airport was last night crowned Company of the Year in the Tyneside and Northumberland heat of the North East Business Awards 2007.
The region’s biggest airport fought off stiff competition from Merit Process Engineering and Northumbria University to land the coveted prize.
Graeme Mason, head of planning and corporate affairs at Newcastle Airport, said: “The aviation industry is an amazing industry to work in. It’s extremely volatile, but generates passion among the people working there and I would like to dedicate the award to the team at Newcastle Airport.”
The award caps a big year for the airport which saw passenger numbers rise to a record 5.7 million in a volatile travel markets.
The worthy runners-up also had a strong year. Merit Process, based in Silverlink, has won a major contract with Atmel to dismantle the North Shields factory it helped build. This helped take its sales to £35m up from £2m five years ago. And Northumbria University was named in the top 10 universities for growth and was one of only 12 in the country to see a growth in applicants.
The first of three sub-regional heats in the region’s biggest and best business awards were held in the Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park, Newcastle, last night.
The winners of the heats of the competition, which is run by The Journal and its Teesside-based sister paper the Evening Gazette, will go on to the grand final in May.
Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “We are here tonight to toast success, to celebrate achievement, to let people know that we have a great many hard-working, innovative people doing some fantastic things right here in the North East .”
The airport was among 11 winners announced last night with prizes presented by representatives from the sponsors: HSBC, Greggs, UK Trade & Investment, Croft Technology, Eversheds LLP, Gate 7, Knight Frank, Wellstream International, Aesica Pharmaceuticals, Newcastle College and Newcastle Science City.
THE WINNERS
Company of the Year
Winner: Newcastle International Airport
Runners up: Northumbria University, Merit Process Engineering
Small Business Award
Winner: Scott Logic
Runners up: Northumbrian Leisure, Shared Interest Society.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Winner: Shared Interest Society
Runners up: Foundry Media, Muckle LLP
Export Award
Winner: The Davy Roll Company
Runners up: Osborne Engineering, Raytec
Internet & ICT Award
Winner: Northumbria University
Runners up: Crafty Computer Paper, Medibroker
Innovation Award
Winner: Derwent Systems
Runners up: Synergiq, Thermacore Europe
Environment Award
Winner: SCA Hygiene Products UK
Runners up: Merck Sharp & Dohme, Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Learning Training & Skills Award
Winner: Express Engineering
Runners up: St Oswald Hospice, Zodiac Automotive UK.
Technology Award
Winner: Derwent Systems
Runners up: Orla Protein Technologies, e-Therapeutics
Services Award
Winner: Eclipse Translations
Runners up: The Tyneside Economic Development Company, The Write Research Company
Manufacturing Award
Winner: Responsive Engineering
Runners up: Zodiac Automotive, Express Engineering
