The Newcastle office of education recruitment specialists The Education Network has been scooped the Best Recruitment Business award in the region at the England’s Business Awards 2025.
England’s Business Awards programme operates through a series of regional heats across the North, Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West with each region split further into sub-regions. The accolade was a surprise to the team who were nominated anonymously.
The Newcastle office of The Education Network, which opened in 2011, has a team of 12 people who providing support to primary, secondary and SEND schools throughout the Ƶ when there is an urgent or unexpected vacancy to fill.
Managing director Shaun Porter said: “We place the wellbeing and education of pupils at the centre of our decision making because we understand the vital role played by education in shaping the lives and futures of children and we want to make a difference. We expect these factors weighed in the judges’ ultimate decision.
“We still don’t know who nominated us either, so we are very grateful to whoever you are! Now we are thinking can we possibly go further and be crowned Best Recruitment Business in the country at the Grand Final in Birmingham in November?”
A partnership of local community stations including Koast Radio, Lionheart Radio and Radio Northumberland have been helped by the AkzoNobel facility in Ashington. The firm’s support has enabled the installation of DAB radio transmitters which have opened the airways to allow multiple radio stations to broadcast via the DAB network.
Since opening its flagship site in Ashington, South East Northumberland in 2017, AkzoNobel, famous for world leading brands such as Dulux and Cuprinol, has contributed to the North East economy and set a precedent through charitable donations, fundraising, and collaboration with local businesses.
To date, AkzoNobel has contributed over £300,000 to local organisations, donated over 7,000 litres of paint, and volunteered over 7,000 hours of staff time. Now AkzoNobel, with Dulux Lets Colour is supporting the launch and transition of local DAB radio stations.
Richard Finch of Northumberland Community Digital, the organisation that manages the Northumberland network said: “The support from AkzoNobel has been amazing. This will allow more people in Northumberland to connect with their local and national radio stations with better clarity and quality.
“We take great pride in being truly local, with presenters who live and work within the communities we serve. For the first time in Northumberland, we will be highlighting the voices of local people, bringing their stories and perspectives to the airwaves in crystal clear DAB.”
Becky Orton Dulux marketing manager said: “We’re incredibly proud to support our local radio stations in their transition to DAB. This initiative not only strengthens our community ties but also ensures that the vibrant voices of Northumberland are heard loud and clear. Our commitment to local media reflects our dedication to the region surrounding our Ashington AkzoNobel manufacturing plant, fostering a sense of unity and progress.”
North East entrepreneur Ian Baggett has helped Zambia to rejoin the global tennis community following a 12-year hiatus.
The Zambia Tennis Association’s readmission follows a payment of over $20,000 in outstanding arrears to the sports global and African governing bodies aided by Mr Baggett, founder of the Newcastle-based Adderstone Group as well as a keen tennis player. He represented British Universities during his time at Durham University and in later years went on to represent Great Britain in the 2014 World Seniors Championships.
The ZTA will now be able to participate in the Davis and Billie Jean Cups, as well as accessing additional financial and professional support for grassroots development which will include improvements to the nation’s tennis infrastructure.
The International Tennis Federation (ITA) suspended the ZTA in 2013 for non-payment of its affiliation fees. However with financial support of Mr Baggett, Adderstone, and others, the ZTA was able to repay the $20,000-plus worth of fees owed to the ITA and the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT).
Lighton Musonda, president of the ZTA, said: “To say we are grateful to Ian and Adderstone is an understatement. I wish I could create a word for it. Probably even Ian and Adderstone do not realise how much they have done. It has been a long, long journey of 12 years of tennis development stagnation, but when I reached out to Ian everything was magic and made our work much easier. What they have done will not only improve tennis standards in Zambia but will also improve the health and wellness for thousands of our youths for years to come. They are simply life-saver.”
Mr Baggett was introduced to the ZTA by his former Durham University mentor Peter Warburton on a visit to Zambia with his eldest two children in 2024. Mr Warburton founded Volunteer Zambia, which has helped deliver dozens of sports-led development programmes since 2004.
Mr Baggett added: “I immediately bonded with Lighton. We were both brought up in mining communities, albeit in different continents, and tennis transformed our lives. His passion for improving the life opportunities for Zambian children especially through tennis is both inspiring and infectious. Now that we’ve helped steady the Zambian tennis ship, I’m looking forward to seeing the ZTA initiate a comprehensive programme of tennis development across all ages, and across the nation.”
Tyne Tunnels operator TT2 has teamed up with The Greggs Foundation to provide a years’ worth of free breakfasts to two Tyneside primary schools. TT2 has funded 118,560 free breakfasts for 624 pupils who attend Forest View Primary in South Shields and Jubilee Primary School, in Wallsend.
The Greggs Foundation aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in the communities where Greggs operates, by creating partnerships between businesses, local schools, and community organisations to offer funds, food, and resources to those who can benefit from their wider network of partners and volunteers. The donation from TT2’s community fund has enabled the Greggs Foundation to provide breakfasts to help the children concentrate and learn.
TT2’s CEO Adrian Wallace said: “We were very happy to support the Greggs Foundation in its brilliant work to feed children who may otherwise not be able to have a well-balanced breakfast before the school day. We chose to support these two particular schools because they are close neighbours of the tunnels and our local communities are important to us.”
The Butterwick Hospice has used a four-figure grant from regional employer Banks Group to bring in new equipment. The Stockton hospice has used the £1,900 Banks Group grant to buy two new syringe drivers, which are used to deliver different medications to patients without the need for a separate injection to be given each time.
Syringe drivers make a tangible difference to both the comfort of patients and to the peace of mind of their families as they face the most difficult of situations. Founded 40 years ago, Butterwick Hospice supports local people and communities across Teesside and County Durham and provides holistic care for children and adults living with a life-limiting illness, as well as support for their families and loved ones.
It was founded by Mary Butterwick following the death of her husband, John. She drew on her own experiences to develop a holistic service to care for adults, babies and children, as well as providing support for their families and loved ones.All Butterwick’s services are provided free of charge and delivered directly from hospice premises in Stockton and Bishop Auckland, as well as in patients’ homes through a dedicated home care service team and it costs approximately £3m annually to fund the hospice’s services.
Anne Cooling, director of income generation at Butterwick Hospice, says: “The financial challenges facing the hospice sector are sadly very well-known and we’re collectively doing as much as we can to continue to raise the funds, we need to ensure we can keep providing all our different services.
“Receiving grant funding like this from local companies like the Banks Group makes a huge difference to our work and very much reflects the community-centred way of working that’s at the heart of everything we do.”
Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: “The contribution that Butterwick Hospice has made to the well-being of families across the region over more than four decades is absolutely immense. The team delivers unwavering care and support to local people and we’re very happy to be contributing to the amazing work that they do.”
