Member Article

Firms urged to enter Tees Valley New Business Awards

Companies launched in the last three years were today urged to enter the Best New Business Awards 2013.

Katy Parkinson, founder director at Sound Training for Reading, last year’s overall winner and winner of the Service Award, says the company, which is raising the literacy levels of pupils across the country, has gone from strength to strength since being named.

She said: “The last few months have seen business increase rapidly, demand is soaring and we are now delivering the service to even more schools including those in Cornwall, Cumbria and Gloucester and we will be targeting Scotland in September.”

The Best New Business Awards shine the spotlight on firms in the Tees Valley that are making a valuable contribution to regional economic regeneration in their first three years of trading.

The awards have recognised lots of fledgling firms, many of which have gone on to become hugely successful global companies including Citrox, Qurios Entertainments, Guardian Marine Testing and Double Eleven.

Industry champion Colin Brown has organised the awards for 14 years to inspire and reward enterprise across the region.

Today he called on businesses to get their entries in as soon as possible.

Colin said: “It’s only right that we recognise and reward the achievements of new businesses and the enormous part they play in bringing about economic growth. “Well-run start-ups have the power to change the economic landscape and as their competitors fall by the wayside they are in a much stronger position to take the lion’s share of the marketplace.

This year sees the addition of new category sponsors Cool Blue Brand Communications, PD Ports and Darlington Borough Council.

The prize money is £500 per category winner and a further £1,000 for the overall winner – making £1,500 all together, a significant cash flow boost when businesses most need it.

This year the main sponsors for the awards are Colin Brown, of Lighthouse FA, Tees Valley Unlimited, Teesside University and PD Ports.

Category sponsors include Five Lamps Organisation – Community; Darlington Borough Council – Creative industries; PD Ports – Environmental; North East Chamber of Commerce – Manufacturing; Cool Blue Brand Communications – Marketing; Stockton Borough Council – Retail; Middlesbrough Council – Service; Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council - Young Entrepreneur; Colin Brown of Lighthouse FA Ltd and Tees Valley Unlimited – overall winner.

*Businesses set up within the past three years (after June 30, 2010) are eligible to enter. Check out www.bestnewbusinessawards.com for further details and entry forms.

Closing date for entries is October 14 and the awards ceremony will be held on February 17 2014.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .