Winners have spoken of their pride after taking home trophies at the North East Business Awards final.
More than 300 people gathered inside the grand marquee at Hardwick Hall, where Muckle LLP took home the big prize as the winning business of the year. The Newcastle law firm beat other regional winners Razorblue and Wootzano to the main prize on the night. There were also prizes for outstanding contribution to North East business and the Prince’s Trust Young Achiever.
Muckle’s managing partner Jason Wainwright said: “We had been agile working before Covid too. Far more people do it now but we’d always done it. I think it’s really hard for law firms to stick out from each other, but everyone tells us that we do that.”
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Hugh Welch, senior partner, added: “For me, with all the changes going on in the legal profession, it’s our continued commitments to this region, to community in this region, to the community fund investing in this region, and remaining invested in this region - that’s our main strength.”
Earlier in the night, Muckle also took home the best place to work trophy.
Cramlington based Reproflex3, a pre-press packaging company which also has operations in Dubai, India and New Zealand, took home the global Britain award, the first of our new categories. Co-founders Trevor Howes and Andrew Hewitson collected the trophy together, and told how the secret to their success was to view every challenge as an opportunity. Mr Hewitson said: “Many of our competitors are struggling right now - we see that as a huge challenge but we keep pushing forward and keep innovating and we have resilience, that’s our strength.”
Clearly Drinks, based in Sunderland, took home the environmental and sustainability award. The soft drinks manufacturer, established in 1885, is making huge strides against plastic overuse. As part of its ESG plan, Clearly Drinks has set out to employ a production process involving recyclable packaging solutions that prevent waste and reduce energy consumption to lower the company’s overall environmental footprint.
Tracey Mallam, production manager, said: “It will be great to tell everyone we’ve won and that their hard work has pain off. We’ve been working so hard to reduce our carbon footprint – we are really passionate about leaving the world in a better place and just want to do our bit to save the planet.”
Tattoo artist Amber Ray Jamieson, winner of the Prince’s Trust Young Achiever, said: “This is mind blowing. When I first started with the Prince’s Trust I didn’t ever imagine where it would take me. Now I’m looking to keep going, grow as an artist and hopefully I can get my own studio and take on staff and continue to grow.”
Wootzano took the innovation award after guests heard how its robotic system, Avarai is making stride in the post-harvest sector. The firm has created electronic skin which gives a greater sensory awareness to robotic hands, enabling it to know the precise force needed to delicately pick and pack soft produce without causing damage to the fruit.
Deborah Fulton, lead marketing director at Sedgefield tech firm Wootzano, highlighted how the firm’s work is currently going global. She said: “It’s amazing to win this; the team has worked so hard to get here. Wootzano entered the market in the US earlier this year, with future plans to expand into Asia and Australia. We have 30-plus patents and counting, which makes us very strong against competition in a global market.”
Billingham based BA Joinery won the growth award, and business operations manager Sam Reed said the firm was not expecting to win in a strong category, adding: “We were up against stroing candidates, so this is brilliant. We have had significant growth over the last two years and the last year has seen staff really push forward and we’ve brought more clients on board.”
May James of business consultancy May James Ltd, won the rising star award, and said: “I’m over the moon - it’s really nice to be recognised. I’ve got a fantastic team and we’re now in five countries and want to do more, especially to help female-founded businesses and give them support so they don’t need to go for funding.”
Ceiling manufacturer Zentia won the Made in Britain award and Dirk Jaspers, managing director, said: “It makes us very proud. Our company is only three and a half years old but it has evolved. We have invested in assets, in people and in our premises in Gateshead, and we have also invested in our partnerships across the value chain in the UK. We excite our employees, please our customers and thrill our shareholders so are very honoured to receive this award.”
Paul Fiddaman, who has been the Karbon Homes group chief executive since 2017, won the business person of the year award, after judges noted how his sound business head, balanced with his strong social heart keeps Karbon pushing forward.
When asked what he believes are key to being a good business leader, he said: “To me there’s two or three key qualities. Authenticity, be who are you are and the best version of yourself, trust the people around you, agree where you are going and help to clear the obstacles to get them there, and be passionate about what you do - and it’s really easy to be passionate about social housing. It’s a sector where you can feel you are contributing something really important.”
Fairgrieve Compression Moulding, a Washington manufacturing business enjoying a new lease of life after 110 years in business, won the small business of the year prize. General manager Barry Davidson said: “It feels absolutely fantastic. It’s really great to be rewarded for all of our hard work.”
The last award of the night was the outstanding contribution trophy, which was awarded to James Ramsbotham - but as he had Covid he couldn’t attend.
In a speech delivered in his absence by Lucy Winskell, chair of the North East LEP, on behalf of Mr Ramsbotham, he said: “North East businesses continue to grow in strength and ability. I am very proud of the small part I have played in promoting their prowess but rather humbled by this recognition. I just consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to have worked for you all.”
