Honouring the Best in Business

The leading lights of local business have been recognised at this year's North Tyneside Business Awards.

The annual accolades recognise and reward the best of the borough's businesses, as well as celebrate the huge contribution that local businesses make to the local economy.

The competition is open to any North Tyneside-based business which has been trading for at least six months and has less than 100 employees

This year's winners represented a diverse range of sectors, from precision engineering to creative pottery.

They were:

Business Start-Up Award - Opus Green
Retail Business Award - Pots and Pancakes
Manufacturing Business Award - Chirton Engineering Ltd
Service Sector Business Award - Weigh Ahead
Young Entrepreneur Award - Custom Planet

The overall North Tyneside Business of the Year Award was presented to Chirton Engineering Ltd.

Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Mrs Linda Arkley said: "These awards really focus our attention on the value of local businesses and the role they play in North Tyneside. Successful businesses are fundamental to a healthy economic future, providing vital services and benefits to our residents and much-needed employment opportunities.

"These five winning businesses represent the very best of the creativity, endeavour and entrepreneurship that exists in the North Tyneside business community. North Tyneside Council remains absolutely committed to encouraging and supporting the development of all North Tyneside businesses, whatever their size, and I wish all five winners every success for the future."

The North Tyneside Business Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday 6 December at the Village Hotel, North Tyneside.

The winners were selected by a judging panel which included representatives from business and commerce. The panel were looking for examples of innovation, perseverance, managerial and financial performance and potential for growth.

And for the first time ever, attendees at the award ceremony voted electronically for the winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award, during the event.

The winner of Business of the Year - Chirton Engineering Ltd, is a North Shields-based subcontractor of precision engineering components. In the last eight years, the company has grown from five to forty employees, and now operates out of a 12,000 square foot facility. This huge expansion has seen an investment of more than £1.5 million to make it one of the leading suppliers to the UK and beyond. They also recently secured Regional Growth Funding to develop the businesses further.

The judging panel were particularly impressed with the company's track record in staff development. Staff retention is exceptionally high, young apprentices are given autonomy and responsibility and new staff are placed 'on the shoulders' of an experienced engineer. They also demonstrate a very strong commitment to the area. Chirton Engineering Ltd also scooped the Manufacturing Business Award.

David Vallely, Chirton Engineering's Procurement Manager, said: "We've been nominated for this award for two years running, and we're over the moon to be nominated again, and to have won in two categories. Our success is down to the hard work, determination and efforts of all of our staff, and it's really nice to be recognised by the business forum for our efforts."

The Business Start-Up Award went to Opus Green - a building services company delivering renewable energy solutions. Opus Green have made tremendous progress in a very short period of time; competing in a very difficult sector they have secured a number of high-value contracts, and the panel could see the company enjoying accelerated growth in the next year.

Managing Director, Chris Cassells said: "We are honoured to have won this award as it highlights how far we've come in a short space of time. We think this award will provide us with a platform to increase our profile and provide individuals and businesses with somewhere to turn to when they are looking to reduce their carbon footprint."

The Retail Business Award was presented to Pots and Pancakes, of North Shields. Owned and run by local entrepreneur Hayley Smith, Pots and Pancakes is a café which also offers a relaxed and informal environment for ceramic painting and pottery. As a retailer they offer a niche product and service which benefits the community in which they operate, and they recently featured on BBC Two's Dragons' Den. Their passion and enthusiasm saw them selected as winners.

Hayley said: "We were shortlisted last year, so it was fantastic to win this time round. We're just really pleased that the time and effort we put into our business has been recognised, and we've had loads of messages of congratulations since word spread that we won. It's been great!"

The Service Sector Business Award went to Weigh-ahead - the original innovators of the pre-check-in luggage weighing system. They first launched in 2009 at Newcastle International Airport and now operate in 11 UK airports. The company has an amazing ability to innovate their products and take calculated risks, and they continue to open up new markets and find new opportunities.

Carole Ann Stewart, Commercial Development Director for Weigh-ahead, said: "Weigh-ahead are thrilled and extremely proud to be selected as 'Best Service Sector Business 2011'. As a company we are truly committed to our region. To gain support and recognition for the achievements we have secured to date is greatly appreciated. It also demonstrates our region's confidence in Weigh-ahead, delivering a strong message to all our associates."

And Custom Planet walked away with the Young Entrepreneur Award. The company provide customised promotional goods and work wear for trade and industry, and owners John Armstrong, 26 and Andy Dark, 28 are highly motivated and constantly looking to drive their business forward.

They started the business three years ago and now employ seven full time members of staff and are looking to take on another two. They have quickly grasped how to build a successful business and put staff training and development at the core of their business.

Young entrepreneur John Armstrong, said: "We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award, which is great credit to all the hard work put in by everyone at Custom Planet. We hope this award will propel us forward onto bigger and better things and allow us to continue to grow and develop as a business."

The North Tyneside Business Awards are supported by the North Tyneside Business Forum. The Forum brings together businesses in a vibrant and supportive environment to share ideas and experiences. It is managed by a group of local business people from across all sectors, who have the needs of the local business community at heart.

For more information about the North Tyneside Business Forum, visit www.northtynesidebusinessforum.co.uk or call (0191) 643 6000.

Back to Latest News