Accolades for enterprise excellence were awarded to the best in business across South Durham recently. Winners of the South Durham Business Awards were unveiled at a prestigious ceremony held at Redworth Hall hotel on Saturday 30th November – with almost 200 business people in attendance.
Celebrating its third year the awards have become County Durham’s top accolade for Durham based businesses – recognising the outstanding contribution that local businesses make to the regional economy.
The event organised by South Durham Business Network and Engineering and Manufacturing Forum and sponsored by Business Durham and Bishop Auckland College – recognise business excellence, innovation and achievement. Awards included business apprentice of the year, best online business, employer of the year and best business start-up.
The awards were presented to winners by Cllr Neil Foster, portfolio holder for Economic Development and Regeneration at Durham County Council. Other awards were presented for the best in engineering and manufacturing, innovation of the year, employer of the year and outstanding contribution to South Durham.
Darren Race, Chairman of the South Durham Business Network said: “The awards have been a great success. This year has been our best year ever with even more categories and nominations. It is so important to recognise and showcase the achievements of all those businesses based in Durham. We have some fantastic businesses here and we need to celebrate and promote their success.
“Businesses have faced a number of challenges over the past few years. They have not only survived a tough economic climate – but have found innovative ways to grow and sustain their businesses.
County Durham has such a diverse range of innovative businesses and I’m delighted that some of these companies have been recognised for their outstanding achievements”.
List of Award Winners 2013
Business Apprentice of the Year – John Greenwood from Livin, Spennymoor (sponsored by South Durham Engineering & Manufacturing Forum)
Engineering Apprentice of the Year – Alex McKenna from the A-Tech Academy, Newton Aycliffe (award sponsored by D & J Franks Renewables)
Customer Care Award – Vinovium Associates Ltd., South Church (awards sponsored by South Durham Business Network)
Employee of the Year – Abi Smith of Stuart Hall & Co., South Church (sponsored by Redworth Hall Hotel, the Puma Group)
Employer of the Year – Thorn Lighting, Spennymoor
Engineering & Manufacturing Award – Ebac Group Ltd., Newton Aycliffe (award sponsored by Izumi products UK ltd)
Exporter of the Year – The Bignall Group, Shildon (sponsored by Business Durham)
Home based business – Bale Traders, Bishop Auckland, (sponsored by South Durham Business Network)
Innovation Award – a joint award to CSI Drugs & Alcohol (Sedgefield) and the Bignall Group (Shildon)
Online Business of the Year – Zine, Barnard Castle (sponsored by Au Fait)
Retailer of the Year – N. Hocking Butchers, Spennymoor (award sponsored by South Durham Business Network)
Service Business of the Year – H and S Consultants UK Ltd., Darlington (sponsored by Northumbria Business Service Ltd – NBSL)
Start-up Business of the Year – The Contemporary Cleaning Company, Spennymoor (award sponsored by Barclays Bank)
Outstanding Contribution to South Durham – Syd Howarth from Newton Press, Newton Aycliffe (award sponsored by IZUMI Products UK Ltd., South Church)
Award Citations
Engineering & Manufacturing – Winner Ebac Group Ltd
Darren Race, South Durham Business Network – “Ebac is a fantastic UK success story and an organisation committed to ensuring engineering and manufacturing remains a pillar within our local and national economy. This has been demonstrated through the continued investment and diversification of products from dehumidifiers, water coolers, air sourced heat pumps and coming soon… washing machines and fridge freezers
The new washing machine venture will reintroduce the manufacturing of washing machines in the UK, and help to reduce the 4 million that are imported every year. It will also generate 200 jobs.”
Outstanding Contribution to South Durham – winner Syd Howarth of Newton Press. Debra Swinburn, Partner at Evans & Co. Solicitors said: “Not only has Syd been the founder of Newton Press, now in its 50th year of operation (an achievement in itself) but he has also been a pillar of the local community through his involvement with the Round Table and Rotary Club raising money for good causes. Sedgefield Borough Council Local Strategic Partnerships, Sedgefield Business Network and South Durham Business Network, Aycliffe Youth Centre new build – chairing its Management Committee for several years, the organisation of the Annual Community Christmas Concert since inception in 1998 and pioneering the Care Partnership for great Aycliffe. As well as work in the immediate area, Syd is also a Trustee on the West Africa Trust – a charity that raises money for Education, Water and Health projects in West Africa raising over £150,000 in the last 10 years. This is just a snapshot of the range and variety of selfless support and commitment to helping others. Syd has always given and supported unconditionally and never sought any recognition. It was a pleasure and a great honour to recognise Syd’s achievements. This is not only a recognition of what he has done in South Durham, but a LIFE TIME achievement award for a very special, well regarded and respected unsung hero.
Employer of the year – winner Thorn Lighting
Brenda Wilson of South Durham Engineering & Manufacturing Forum: – “It’s important to recognise those companies who have made a significant contribution to the local economy and County Durham through employment and sustaining jobs. Thorn lighting is recognised as an employer of choice and has provided many jobs and economic security to many local families. Their recent relocation and decision to remain in the UK when a number of other large engineering and manufacturing companies chose low cost economies has to be recognised.
They have also invested heavily in an impressive and highly efficient manufacturing and production facility further securing jobs and employment – whilst providing safe and ergonomically efficient working conditions”.
Innovation of the year – Joint winners CSI Drugs & Alcohol and The Bignall Group
Darren Race, Chairman of South Durham Engineering & Manufacturing Forum – “This was a very difficult category to judge resulting in joint winners. Both businesses are quite different but each demonstrated significant strength in innovation. CSI Drugs & Alcohol – have established a £1million state of the art laboratory based in NetPark Sedgefield using the latest drugs and alcohol testing service to all sectors. Using the latest testing processes they are able to accurately and cost effectively identify and reduce risk for their clients. Their supportive approach which includes social science and support helps to transform business performance giving a direct and significant return on investment.The Bignall Group – continue to punch above their weight through the proactive engagement with university undergraduates, the Technology Strategy Board and the costly and timely process of patent registration. This is a perfect example of BIG not always being best.”
The South Durham Business Awards are sponsored by, Bishop Auckland College, Business Durham, South Durham Business Network and Engineering & Manufacturing Forum.
