Women business leaders were celebrated at the North East Businesswomen of the Year (WIN) Awards.
Kris Blackburn, who owns The Running Fox Group of coffee shops in Northumberland, scooped the prestigious Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship. She said “I am speechless - this is such an honour. I totally did not expect this, and I feel so humbled amongst so many inspirational women. There were so many amazing winners and runners up and I totally didn’t see this coming. The team are buzzing, and it has given a huge lift to everyone’s spirits after a very difficult couple of years during Covid.”
Best Small Business was presented to Louise Kennedy of Oculus HR, while the Best New Business went to Natalie Dawson from Awesome Botanical Ltd and Employer of the Year was won by Karbon Homes.
Linda Kirk from Just For Women, a centre based in Stanley offering support to thousands of women and girls, won Role Model of the Year, and The Rising Star award went to Alison Stephenson of AAA Caring Caretaker. Sally George of George F White picked up the Leadership award and Elaine Parker from Safer Date won the innovation Award. The Women in STEM prize was won by the Women Of Kielder Observatory and the Young Entrepreneur award went to May James.
Nickie Gott, chair of WIN Awards said: “The standard has been exceptional, and judging was incredibly tough. All these women are inspirational role models. When we set up these awards, we wanted to turn the spotlight on the amazing women we have in the region, who work across a whole range of businesses and organisations and I know we have achieved that.”
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Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP has celebrated the 20th anniversary of its community fund, which has donated more than £600,000 to charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations in Tyne and Wear, Teesside, Northumberland and Cumbria.
The Muckle Community Fund has awarded £603,370 in grants to 662 charities and organisations, taking 1% of its annual profits to the fund. Muckle also gives up to £140,000 worth of free legal advice to charities and community organisations every year.
Hugh Welch, Muckle LLP senior partner, said: “20 years is a significant milestone for the fund, and it was important to us that we used this opportunity to celebrate with some of the charities we’ve been lucky enough to work with over the years. Through the Community Fund, we have been able to build lasting relationships that have had an impact on not only the charities but also our firm and the people who work here.”
“If you had told me 20 years ago when we started that we would be here today having awarded over half a million in funding, I’m not sure I would have believed you. It’s been fantastic to see how far we’ve come, but we’re now looking to the future and how we can make an even bigger impact on the communities we serve.”
Housebuilder Bellway North East has raised more than £20,000 for a national cancer charity at its annual ball in Newcastle.
Staff and partners attended the glittering event at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle, with money raised going to Cancer Research UK, which Bellway has been supporting for the past six years.
Managing Director David McCrindle said: “The event was a huge success and thanks must go to everyone who had a hand in organising such a fabulous night out. The ball has become a very important date in the Bellway North East calendar. It is a red-letter day not only because it gives the whole team the chance to socialise in a relaxed setting but also because we are able to raise money to help a very worthy cause.
“We have developed a very special relationship with Cancer Research UK over the years and it feels good to be able to add £20,000 plus to the running total as we strive to reach our target of £3m for the charity.”
A competition for enterprising young minds is challenging pupils from County Durham secondary schools to turn their problem-solving skills into a profitable business.
Future Business Magnates will see enterprising young minds from the county’s secondary schools working together with partner businesses to create, develop and present their ideas for a solution to a current commercial challenge.
The programme, run by Business Durham, aims to inspire future entrepreneurs by allowing pupils to experience the fun of starting their own business while developing key employability skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication and presentation skills.
It was launched last week at Durham County Cricket Club with 13 schools and 10 businesses from across County Durham.
Coun Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships at Durham County Council, said: “Future Business Magnates provides a great opportunity for students to explore possible career pathways as well as nurture and inspire their entrepreneurial skills. Recent times have tested the resilience of many companies across the county, and so the ability to encounter a problem and use your team’s creativity, ingenuity and inventiveness to find new solutions is an essential skill to thrive in today’s ever-changing world of business, and one we feel is vital to pass onto the next generation.”
Training provider Learning Curve Group has raised more than £15,000 at its annual charity ball.
The event, titled A Night in Hollywood, took place at Hardwick Hall Hotel in County Durham, to raise money for the Learning Curve Charity Foundation, which works to increase skills, decrease unemployment, and alleviateg poverty.
Brenda McLeish, CEO of Learning Curve Group, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have raised such an impressive amount at our Charity Ball last week, it is always one of my favourite nights of the year as we get to celebrate the impact we’ve had on so many people across the country whilst also raising more money for our LCG Charity Foundation.
“I would like to say thank you to our charity ball sponsors, NCFE and Scholars School System for generously supporting our LCG Charity Foundation. I would also like to thank all our guests, clients and suppliers for supporting our charity ball through buying tickets and donating prizes.”
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