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 12 categories, 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 UK, On a Roll Sandwich Company and St Oswald’s Hospice.
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 Virgin Money
Green
Haystack
YANA Active
Innovation & Technology Award, sponsored by Sage
Double Eleven Ltd
Muckle LLP
Shoptimised
Services Award, sponsored by Peacocks Medical Group
Clarity Informatics
Everflow Water
razorblue
Apprenticeships, Training & Skills Award, sponsored by Northern Skills Group
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 FW Capital
Double Eleven Ltd
Furniture Clinic Ltd
razorblue
SoPost
Heart of the Community Award, sponsored by University of Sunderland
Middleton Grange Shopping Centre
Muckle LLP
Newcastle Building Society
Northumberland FA
Manufacturing Award, sponsored by Nifco
Clearly Drinks
Haskel
Redrose Nutraceutical Manufacturer
Covid-19 Response Award, sponsored by North of Tyne Combined Authority
AkzoNobel Ashington
Mobile Mini UK Ltd
On a Roll Sandwich Company
St Oswald’s Hospice
Company of the Year - Durham, Sunderland & South Tyneside, sponsored by Business Durham
Learning Curve Group
Premier Roof Systems Ltd
Redrose Nutraceutical Manufacturer
Company of the Year - Northumberland & Tyneside, sponsored by Newcastle City Council
AkzoNobel Ashington
Bazaar Group
Bloom Procurement Services
Company of the Year - Teesside, sponsored by Tees Valley Business
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 Newcastle University
