Local business success recognised with new awards

[The Enterprise Agency]

Best New Business Award 2009
Astonmitchell - Winner
Laverock Holiday Cottages - Finalist
Nitty Gritty Learning - Finalist

Innovation Award 2009
Eldon Financial Planning Ltd - Winner
Britnett Web Services - Finalist
Roundhouse Building Solutions Ltd - Finalist

Leadership Award 2009
Medical Services North East - Winner
Eldrett Finch - Finalist
Trimmers - Finalist
Wisemove Land & Property Consultants - Finalist

Entrepreneurs Award 2009
Weldrack - Winner
1marketplace, ‘The Champagne Bar’ - Finalist
Evenwood News - Finalist

Chief Executive of Durham County Council George Garlick, County Councillor Neil Foster, Helen Goodman MP, Lord Foster and David Buffham from the Bank of England were just a few of the leading political and economic figures who gathered at the 1marketsquare champagne bar in Bishop Auckland to acknowledge the achievements of the winners of the first Wear Valley and Teesdale Business Awards.

Established by the Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley and Teesdale, the awards recognise the efforts and achievements of local businesses. Rob Yorke, Chairman of the Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley and Teesdale explained: “Given the current economic climate and the difficulties faced by so many companies at present, we felt it important to recognise how hard and creatively local people are working to survive and beat the recession.”

There were four main Award categories - Best New Business Award, Innovation Award, Leadership Award and Entrepreneurs Award. The finalists in each category were selected from fifty shortlisted nominees.

The finalists were been judged in their categories by a distinguished and expert panel of judges including David Buffham, the Bank of England’s Agent for the North East.

Announcing the judges decision, Lord Derek Foster, paid tribute to the quality of businesses nominated: “The quality and diversity of the nominations is testament to the fact that many local firms are innovating, growing, diversifying and succeeding here despite the recession.”

The winners of each category were Astonmitchell, a men’s make up business for Best New Business 2009, chartered financial services provider Eldon Financial Planning Ltd for the Innovation Award 2009, Medical Services North East won the Leadership Award 2009 and Weldrack, the Entrepreneurs Award 2009.

Dog friendly holiday specialist Laverock Cottages and schools’ teaching specialists Nitty Gritty Learning were runners up in the Best New Business Award 2009 and were highly commended by the judges. The judges said of winners Astonmitchell: “They have taken a market which might have seemed small but have realised how big it can be with the power of the Internet. This has shown excellent instinct and they have now identified a variety of new potential markets.”

National web services company Britnett and agricultural fabrications experts Roundhouse Building Solutions Ltd, both Barnard Castle based, were also praised highly by judges and were runners up in the Innovation 2009 Award with winners Eldon Financial Planning Ltd being commended by the judges for “showing innovation in product development and identifying a gap in the market. Structured to be different and run in such a way to encourage trust in an industry widely de-trusted. Its ethical stance is clear. It has a holistic way of combining social and community support with business objectives. ”

Bishop Auckland Hair Salon Trimmers, fabrication firm Eldrett Finch and land and property consultants Wise Move were all commended for their approach in dealing with difficult markets and being able to reinvent themselves and were runners up in the Leadership Award 2009 category. Outright category winner was Bishop Auckland based Medical Services North East which has recovered from a difficult time to see a sales growth of 134% with the company already employing seven new employees this year. Judges said: “A concentration on customer care, highest standards of quality service to customers, and on training, has given them a leading edge. Their clear strategy demonstrates strong and effective leadership.”

The new champagne bar 1marketplace, where the awards ceremony took place, was one of the runners up in the Entrepreneurs Award 2009 category, alongside Evenwood News with both being highly praised by judges for the way they ran their businesses. Engineering firm Weldrack triumphed with the judges praising them for “a concentration on customer care, highest standards of quality service to customers, and on training, has given them a leading edge. Their clear strategy demonstrates strong and effective leadership.”

Chief Executive of the Enterprise Agency Shaun Stuart, said the awards evening has helped celebrate the host of entrepreneurial businesses in Wear Valley and Teesdale.

“The quality of the nominated businesses was really high and it was genuinely very difficult to decide on the winners because all the businesses had achieved so much. The news is naturally dominated by businesses that are managing to survive but we wanted to raise media awareness of all the businesses out there who are bucking the trend and doing well despite the economic situation.”

Awards Nominations

Claire Mitchell Aston Mitchell www.astonmitchell.com
Mandy Bainbridge Laverock Holiday Cottages www.laverockholidaycottages.co.uk
Alan Fentiman Alan Fentiman www.alanfentiman.co.uk
Anne-Marie Fitzsimons-Keogh Awards Online www.awardsonline.co.uk
Glenda Waterworth Graphicus www.graphicus.co.uk
Dick Francis The Carrosserie Company Ltd www.carrosserie.co.uk
Peter Dixon Radio Teesdale www.radioteesdale.co.uk
Anita Johnson Teesdale Tack & Countrywear www.tackandcountry.co.uk
Paul Harper Britnett www.britnett.co.uk
Martina Wray Popperdopplers Cockfield 01388 718078
Eric Jordan Evenwood News/ Central Stores 0750 622 8025
Sally McCollin Stitcharena www.stitcharena.co.uk
Richard Warren QWS www.handcleaners4u.co.uk
Gail Goodall Northside Farm Retreat www.northsidefarmretreat.co.uk
Bob Surgeoner Neat Acoustics www.neat.co.uk
Julia Longstaff Longmann Plastics Ltd Barnard Castle 01833 640119
Chris Fish CMF Planning & Design Barnard Castle 07886 860759
John Pearson RW Injection Moulding Ltd www.rwinjectionmoulding.co.uk
Geoff Simpson Roundhouse Building Solutions Ltd www.roundhouseltd.co.uk
Alan Heavisides Alan Heavisides Purpose Made Joinery www.alanheavisides.co.uk
Derek Nixon Anthony Nixon Fine Furniture www.anthonynixon.co.uk
Richard Fraser Northern Archeological www.naa.gb.com
Claire Bromley Claire International Ltd www.claireid.com
Peter Coverdale P & S Coverdale Masonry Contractors Ltd Barnard Castle 01833 628351
Andrew Rowbotham Riverside Restaurant www.riverside-restaurant.co.uk
Joss Harwood Eldon Financial Planning Ltd www.eldonfinancial.co.uk
Wayne Edy Inov8 www.inov-8.com
Craig Davison Sea Dog Art Wolsingham 01388 526569
Linda Kempsey Nitty Gritty Learning www.nittygrittylearning.co.uk
Wayne Hall Medical Services www.msne.co.uk
Jim Loughram Vinovium Associates www.vinoviumassociates.com
Paul Eldrett Eldrett Finch Ltd www.eldrettfinch.co.uk
Gerald Shervington Atlas Washrooms www.atlas-washrooms.co.uk
Graham Emerson Weldrack Ltd www.weldrack.com
Colin and Roy Martin Colroy Eastgate Ltd www.colroy.co.uk
Paul Smith RPK Ltd – Low Willington (sofa italia) www.leathersofaitalia.co.uk
Darren Ellis AutoScan www.autoscanqa.co.uk
Malcolm Thompson Electrix International www.electrix.co.uk
Ian Davison IVM Plastic Injection Moulding www.validationmoulders.co.uk
Kim Fryer No 1 Market Place www.1marketplace.co.uk
Jennifer Williams Izumi www.izumi-products.co.uk
Kevin Mclean Northgate Systems Stanhope www.northgatesystems.co.uk
Judith Sales The Moorland Rug Co www.moorland-rugs.co.uk
Mike Davey Witherslack www.wcei.co.uk
Jean Wombwell Trimmers Hairdressing Bishop Auckland 01388 602 001
Graeme Blenkinsopp Wisemove www.wisemove.co.uk
Mark Wilson North Of England Trike Tours www.triketours.co.uk
Rebecca Phillipson UR in the Papers www.inthepaper.co.uk
Craig Stonehouse CMCA Crook 01388 764985
Norman Davies All Seasons Arborists 01325 730180

[Charlotte Stow]

Congratulations to everyone who took part and made this evening one to remember - fantastic companies and company! The official photo gallery is on its way.

[Claire Mitchell]

Charlotte - thank you for organising such a fantastic night. The atmosphere was great and we met some lovely people - what a brilliant venue too! Why don't we have parties like that more often?! :0)

Charlotte Stow said:

Congratulations to everyone who took part and made this evening one to remember - fantastic companies and company! The official photo gallery is on its way.