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The prize for the Best Place to Work in the North East has been won by Northumbrian Water in an initiative organised by The Journal newspaper.

The water company edged out Newcastle Building Society, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust and Home Group to top the table of the North East's 50 Best Places to Work.

The firm also took the award for the company's best large firm, with Queensway Dental named the best medium company and  for best small company. The best not-for-profit was Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust

Elsewhere, Newcastle technology group Zerolight won the prize for best office for its site overlooking the Tyne, and the award for community involvement was won by computer games company Ubisoft Reflections, which was praised for its work in inspiring the next generation of games developers in the North East.

took the award for best perk, winning praise for giving staff paid days off to find creative inspiration or pursue professional development.

And Steven Lee, MD of Wallsend lighting company Barrier Ex, was named the region’s best boss after judges were told of his role in creating “the most unique and stimulating of environments”, his engagement with staff and his commitment to giving something back to the community.

Journal business editor Graeme Whitfield, who introduced the event, said: “When we started these awards, we wanted to recognise companies in the North East that looked after their staff as well as the bottom line. Making this region the best place to live and is one of the key aims of our Invest in the North East campaign, and the companies here tonight are very much doing that.

“I was amazed at some of the things that are going on in these companies, not to say a little jealous. It comes as no surprise to me that the companies who are making strides to look after their staff more often than not are also those that are doing well in business.”