Entries have opened for the North East Business Awards 2020.
A number of new categories have been added for what will be the 20th time the events have been held in their current form.
As in previous years, there will be three sub-regional finals for Northumberland and Tyneside, Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside, and Teesside, culminating in the regional grand final, which takes place at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, next April.
Two new categories - the apprenticeships, training and skills award, and the high growth and ambition award - have been introduced.
Reach North East’s senior editor Helen Dalby said: “The North East Business Awards are an annual opportunity for us to celebrate business success stories, and each year we are astonished by the brilliant work, innovation and ambition that is reflected in the entries we receive.
“The awards are the biggest and best of their kind in the Ƶ, with almost 2,000 people attending the four events earlier this year.
“We want you to help us succeed in our ambition to make 2020 our biggest and best Business Awards, so we’re looking for as many nominations as possible. We want to hear from companies who have achieved and are achieving great things this year.”
Last year the overall Company of the Year prize was won by Northumberland’s Tharsus Group, which beat Sunderland’s Nice Network and Teesside firm Lexonik to the top prize.
The company’s CEO Brian Palmer said: “Being named Company of the Year 2019 at the North East Business Awards Grand Final felt like the culmination of the journey Tharsus has been on over the last 10 years.
“The award provided a real boost to all our colleagues, growing a business is never easy, so external recognition of everyone’s effort and what has been achieved is always welcome.
“The awards nights are fantastic events and one that our colleagues really enjoyed attending, which was evident by the very vocal support for our victories from our tables.”
Entries have now opened at www.nebusinessawards.co.uk. Companies have until January 10 to submit entries, with more details on how to enter on the same website.
The Northumberland and Tyneside Awards will take place at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on February 27 followed by the Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside Awards on March 12 at Ramside Hall. The Teesside finals take place at Middlesbrough College on March 26 followed by the Grand Final at Hardwick Hall on April 30.
The categories in this year’s awards are:
* Small Business Award
* Innovation Award
* Digital Technology Award
* Newcomer of the Year
* Heart of the Community Award
* Manufacturing Award
* Apprenticeships, Training & Skills Award
* High Growth & Ambition Award
* Services Award
* Tourism & Hospitality Award
* Best Creative Company Award
* Company of the Year
