Awards - 'It was my best move'

Dec 11 2006 By Helen Logan, The Journal

The region's leading executives have been honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony - one of the longest-running business events in the UK, now in its 23rd year. Helen Logan reports.

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Two people who have made their mark in the world of business after moving North have revealed their passion for the region. This emerged at the North-East Business Executive of the Year awards, which are organised by The Journal and Middlesbrough's Evening Gazette.

The Lifetime Achievement accolade went to Sir Fred Holliday, who has made a major contribution to people's lives in both academia and the corporate arena.

Born in the Midlands, he is a former vice-chancellor of Durham University and past chairman of Northumbrian Water and transport group Go-Ahead.

He said: "Moving here to the North-East was quite the best thing I did in my life. ... "I will not let this region be talked down. It's fantastic."

Gordon Banham was crowned the North-East Business Executive of the Year.

Originally from Norfolk, he has built Hargreaves Services, of Esh Winning, County Durham, into the largest independent importer of domestic and industrial coal and a UK leader in bulk haulage with more than 400 lorry tankers.

He said: "The thing about being a successful business executive is picking the right team and I have come to realise the wealth of talent there is here in the North-East."

Hargreaves's success was all down to teamwork, he told the audience at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park.

He said: "We have 1,400 staff and hope to be close to 2,000 next year. We are like a football team - we argue from time to time, but when we get on the pitch we kick in the same direction and put a lot of goals in."

Mr Banham's track record impressed the judges who had the hard task of whittling 50 top executives down to a shortlist of nine finalists.

He has led a management buyout, floated the plc to the tune of £21.5m on the Alternative Investment Market and through a series of acquisitions has guided Hargreaves towards a turnover of £200m.

There was one winner each from the Tees Valley, Tyneside and Northumberland, and Durham and Wearside.

Those named the best in each area went on to compete for the coveted North-East Business Executive of the Year crown.

Chairman of the judges Sir Ian Wrigglesworth said: "This event provides a showcase for the most outstanding business leaders in the region - people who have an outstanding track record, dynamism, the ability to face challenges and strong leadership skills.

"The region needs more successful people like the finalists tonight."

Roger Duggan, of IDS, Boldon, which makes and markets diagnostic testing kits for clinical and research markets, took the Tyneside and Northumberland title.

Steve Smith, who has spearheaded the expansion of Darlington commercial vehicle hire business Northgate into Europe, was declared the Tees Valley winner.

The Young Business Person of the Year trophy was won by Tarek Nseir, 25 founder of Th_nk, of Newcastle, a brand technology group with a turnover of £2.4m and 40 employees.

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The quest is on to find the best

Now the search is on for the region's top companies.

This will be the seventh year of the North East Business Awards in their revised format.

In that time these awards, organised by the Evening Gazette and The Journal, have grown to be among the best-known and most respected throughout the business community in the North-East.

There are three sub-regions:

Tees Valley

Durham and Wearside

Tyneside and Northumberland

With the 11 winners from each of these areas going forward to the regional final.

THE AIM OF THE AWARDS

The awards aim to recognise achievement, to encourage excellence and to celebrate success.

THE SPONSORS

The awards are sponsored by a whole host of companies and organisations. The sheer quality and the blue-chip nature of the sponsors adds to the prestige and gravitas of the awards.

THE JUDGING

Each award has a separate judging panel with an appropriate chairperson, nominated by the award sponsor.

The decision of each judging panel is final and, while every effort will be made to give feedback to entrants, no specific correspondence will be entered into.

THE CATEGORIES

* Small Business

* Corporate Social Responsibility

* Export

* Internet and ICT

* Innovation

* Environment

* Learning, Training and Skills

* Technology

* Services

* Manufacturing

* Company of the Year

AWARDS DINNERS

March 22: Tyneside and Northumberland, Newcastle Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park

March 29: Tees Valley, Tall Trees, near Yarm

April 5: Durham and Wearside, Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham.

May 24: Regional final, Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield.

HOW TO ENTER

Individual companies and organisations can enter a maximum of three separate categories.

Entries must relate to activity during 2006.

The awards are open to companies of all sizes and organisations with a significant presence in any of the sub-regions.

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday, January 19.

Nominations can be made online at: www.northeastbusinessawards.co.uk