The North East BusinessLive Awards are returning with a new set of categories.
The awards have celebrated the best of North East business for more than 20 years and are returning to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and creativity, as well as some of the people making a difference in the region’s business community.
In a change from previous years, shortlists in three parts of the North East - Tyneside and Northumberland; Sunderland, Durham and South Tyneside and Teesside - will be announced on 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, the grand final taking place at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield on September 26.
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Journal editor Graeme Whitfield said: "It’s great to have the Business Awards back. We’ve been celebrating the best of North East business for more than two decades and hope to be doing so for many years yet.
"We’ve freshened up the categories this year to reflect the changing world of work but the focus of the awards is very much the same - to recognise the great work which goes on in our business community. 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."
The event will be hosted by former athlete Iwan Thomas, known for his TV appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Hunted and various sporting events.
He said: “The awards are the most prestigious in the region and have a long history of championing some of the area’s best companies. The night itself promises to be a wonderful occasion where we will celebrate the cream of the crop of North East businesses.”
Nominations have opened for the awards, which are open to businesses of all types and sizes. There are also categories for individuals this year, from apprentices starting out to people who have been making a difference for decades.
The categories for the North East BusinessLive Awards 2023 are:
Small Business of the Year: To celebrate a small business which combines commercial success with other elements of the awards, such as customer service, social impact, innovation and developing talent.
Innovation Award: Celebrating inventive thinking, product or system development and creativity in business.
Best Place to Work Award: Recognising a business with a focus on developing talent through training, apprenticeships, work experience, diversity and inclusion, career progression and opening opportunities to all.
Growth Award: To recognise a growing medium-sized business which has taken tangible steps to increase its scale and impact.
Global Britain Award: Recognising a business which is trading with the world in a successful, innovative way, showing how firms large or small can play their part in Global Britain.
Rising Star Award: For a young person in business, either as an owner, employee or apprentice, who is having a positive impact beyond their age and experience. They may be demonstrating notable success, have overcome adversity to achieve or using their success to help others.
Outstanding Contribution Award: This award recognises an immense sustained contribution to business, society and the community across a number of years.
Business Person of the Year: For a business owner or leader who has had a major impact on their firm’s success, which may also be delivering benefits to other people, such as employees or the community.
Made in Britain Award: Recognising excellence in manufacturing and production in this country.
Environmental and Sustainability Award: Highlighting a business making a difference to the environment, locally, nationally or globally, either through its products and services or its way of working.
Unsung Hero Award: Highlighting the impact of a staff or team member who may not ordinarily receive recognition, showing business success is not just about management and leadership. They may have overcome adversity, such as serious illness or bereavement.
Business of the Year: For a business which has performed exceptionally, either in commercial terms, innovation, impact or customer service.
The Princes’ Trust Young Achiever: For a young person who has overcome adversity or challenges with the help of the Prince’s Trust and gone on to make a remarkable impact in business.
Paul Struthers, UK and Ireland MD for the event’s headline partners Sage, said: “We are thrilled to be headline sponsor of the North East BusinessLive awards for the third year running. Sage started 40 years ago in the North East by inventive local graduates determined to make business accounting easier.
"A lot has changed since then but the one constant is that our heart firmly remains here as we continue to invest in and showcase the brilliance in this region whenever we can."
Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive of associate partner Middlesbrough College, said: "Middlesbrough College Group are proud to sponsor the North East BusinessLive Awards. We support more than 2,000 employers with apprenticeship and training solutions to help shape the economic future of our region and celebrating the businesses which make the North East the vibrant, promising place to live and work sits right in the heart of our group values.
"The North East BusinessLive Awards highlight the outstanding successes of every business and the amazing people behind every North East based business deserve to be recognised."
To enter and for more information visit nebusinessawards.co.uk. The closing date for entries is 5pm on May 31. To find out more about sponsorship opportunities email tom.austin@reachplc.com.
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