The North East Business Awards are returning to celebrate the best of the region’s business community.
This year’s event marks the 25th anniversary of the awards being held to celebrate businesses in the whole of the North East. The awards celebrate exceptional businesses, individuals and teams who have set new standards of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity.
Winners in 10 categories will be selected in three parts of the North East – Northumberland and Tyneside; Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside; and Teesside – before they are announced later this year on our websites ChronicleLive, TeessideLive and BusinessLive and in the pages of The Journal and the Gazette. The area winners for each category will then compete for the overall prize, with the grand final taking place at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield on September 25.
Last year the prestigious North East Business of the Year Award was won by North Tyneside robotics firm Wootzano. The company was praised for its cutting-edge technology and global ambitions, with its world leading expertise in its field helping it to win multi-million pound orders from around the world. Other winners on the night included Fairgrieve Compression Moulding, Noggin HQ and Big Bite.
Tyneside software giant is returning as headline partner, with signing up as the associate partner, and as a category partner.
Journal editor Graeme Whitfield said: “The Business Awards have been a fixture on the regional business calendar now for 25 years. There is no better event for celebrating the best of our region’s brilliant companies.
“I know from going to the awards over many years that winning – or even just taking part – can mean so much to boosting staff morale and raising businesses’ profile. I hope as many companies as possible enter the awards so we can really highlight our great companies to the widest possible audience.
“It’s great to have Sage and Newcastle University back again as major supporters of the awards. Sage is a company born and bred in the North East, and this will be the fifth consecutive year that they have headline partnered with the awards. We're delighted to have their continued support.”
Nikola McNicol-Kenney, VP for small segment at Sage in Ƶ and Ireland, said: "With our global headquarters rooted in the North East, we are proud to once again be the headline sponsor of the North East Business Awards for the fifth consecutive year. This event is a testament to the region’s thriving innovation, exceptional talent, and outstanding business community, and we are committed to celebrating and supporting their continued success."
Estelle Blanks, director of business development and enterprise and deputy director of research and innovation at Newcastle University, said: “Newcastle University is delighted to sponsor the NE Business Awards as an Associate Partner. Inclusive innovation is a key driver for economic growth. As a civic university, we play a key role in convening the local innovation ecosystem.
“Our aim is simple: collaboration for innovation. By working together across industry, entrepreneurs, communities, and government, we can build on the opportunities for economic growth. For NEBA’s 25th anniversary, we are joining the region’s incredible businesses and entrepreneurial talent and look forward to showcasing our innovative spin-outs and start-up companies.”
The awards are now open to entries and more details can be found at .
The award categories are:
- Start-up Award
- Small Business of the Year
- Business for Good
- Innovation Award
- Best Place to Work
- Growth Award
- Made in the North East
- Business of the Year
- Rising Star
- Business Person of the Year.
