The shortlist for this year’s North East Business Awards has been announced as the annual event takes on a new format to reflect the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 33 companies from around the North East have been nominated in, with the event due to take place at Hardwick Hall near Sedgefield next month.

The previous format of sub-regional heats - in Tyneside and Northumberland; Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside; and Teesside - has been suspended for a year in favour of one regional competition.

Read more: 2020 winners

And a new category reflecting the way the region’s business community has responded to the pandemic has been added.

But the event will still see a Company of the Year being crowned in the sub-regional areas, with the Tyneside and Northumberland award between AkzoNobel Ashington, Bazaar Group and Bloom Procurement Services.

In Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside, Learning Curve Group, Premier Roof Systems and Redrose Nutraceutical Manufacturer will compete for the top prize, while on Teesside the battle is between Cleveland Containers, Double Eleven and PD Ports.

Elsewhere, the Covid-19 Response Award will be contested by AkzoNobel Ashington, Mobile Mini º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, On a Roll Sandwich Company and St Oswald’s Hospice.

North East Business Awards logo
North East Business Awards logo

A number of companies - including Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP and Teesside tech firm razorblue - are competing in more than one award.

The North East Business Awards - which are headline sponsored by Middlesbrough College and associate sponsored by Sage - take place on September 23. For more information, contact Lesley Hampson at lesley.hampson@reachplc.com.

The shortlist is:

Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by

Green

Haystack

YANA Active

Innovation & Technology Award, sponsored by

Double Eleven Ltd

Muckle LLP

Shoptimised

Services Award, sponsored by

Clarity Informatics

Everflow Water

razorblue

Apprenticeships, Training & Skills Award, sponsored by

EDM Zone Ltd

The Grad Scheme

PD Ports

Smart IT

Small Business Award

Lingotot

Lucid Technology Solutions

Sweetdreams Ltd

High Growth & Ambition Award, sponsored by

Double Eleven Ltd

Furniture Clinic Ltd

razorblue

SoPost

Heart of the Community Award, sponsored by

Middleton Grange Shopping Centre

Muckle LLP

Newcastle Building Society

Northumberland FA

Manufacturing Award, sponsored by

Clearly Drinks

Haskel

Redrose Nutraceutical Manufacturer

Covid-19 Response Award, sponsored by

AkzoNobel Ashington

Mobile Mini º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Ltd

On a Roll Sandwich Company

St Oswald’s Hospice

Company of the Year - Durham, Sunderland & South Tyneside, sponsored by

Learning Curve Group

Premier Roof Systems Ltd

Redrose Nutraceutical Manufacturer

Company of the Year - Northumberland & Tyneside, sponsored by

AkzoNobel Ashington

Bazaar Group

Bloom Procurement Services

Company of the Year - Teesside, sponsored by

Cleveland Containers

Double Eleven Ltd

PD Ports

The winners of the three sub-regional Company of the Year titles then go head-to-head to be crowned the overall North East Company of the Year, sponsored by