North East Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations to our Chamber Business Awards 2024 winners! 🥳

Rising Star: Nathaniel Cutler (Komatsu Uk)
Sponsored by North East Times

Small Business of the Year: Erudus
Sponsored by Pureprint Group

Larger Business of the Year: New College Durham
Sponsored by Lookers Vehicle Solutions

Entrepreneur of the Year: Chloe Clover (Wander Films)
Sponsored by Intuit

Community Business of the Year: Karbon Homes
Sponsored by Society Matters Cic

People and Work Business of the Year: Northumbrian Water Limited
Sponsored by NRG

Digital Revolution Business of the Year: SPARK EPoS
Sponsored by North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC)

Green Innovation Business of the Year: Lumo
Sponsored by Pulsant

International Trade Business of the Year: Cleveland Cable Company Ltd
Sponsored by Prima Cheese

Local Economy of the Future Business of the Year: razorblue
Sponsored by Community Transport Association

Business of the Year: Erudus
Sponsored by OakNorth Bank

Congratulations to Great North Air Ambulance Service and The Alnwick Garden who were Highly Commended in their categories.

We’d also like to say a big thank you to our wonderful host, Charlie Charlton and to our guest speakers. Thanks to our awards associate sponsor Bernicia Group and to all our award category sponsors.

We can’t forget to thank Gateshead College and their students for their moving performance and to Phil Davids & The Good Times Band for closing out the ceremony with their fab jazz act! And to all those who attended yesterday’s exciting Final!

Yesterday we held an informative Northumberland Area Meeting at The Rivergreen Centre.

Many thanks to our speaker Caroline Preston from The North East Combined Authority for providing an update on The Good Work Pledge and fostering inclusive grows and fairness in North East businesses.

Thanks also to John Johnston for chairing our state of trade introductions opened some good discussions.

We're delighted to be working in partnership with HM Lieutenancies of the North East to bring a fantastic opportunity to the attention of businesses in the region! 🙌

The King’s Award for Enterprise is the most prestigious business award that recognises and celebrates outstanding entrepreneurial achievement across the UK. Our thriving business ecosystem is something that should be celebrated and recognised.

Successful recipients of the award receive a Grant of Appointment and can display the award emblem for up to five years. They also gain access to a thriving alumni network of previous winners.

His Majesty The King personally approves the awards, supported by the Department for Business and Trade who publicly announce the recipients.

The four categories of award are:
🌎 International Trade
💡 Innovation
♻ Sustainable Development
🤝 Promoting Opportunity through social mobility

This introduction workshop event is open to ANY business in the region, including Chamber non-members!

Join us on June 4! Find out more information here👉 https://okt.to/fnVNwp..

🗣 Calling all North East businesses! We need your input! 🗣

Our Q2 is open to everybody, and we need YOU to share your insights!

We need as many responses from across the region as possible to ensure they can continue to accurately represent the North East’s business needs!

✨ Your response enters you into the draw for a chance to win 4 tickets to a Vitality Blast T20 cricket match*, courtesy of Durham Cricket!

👏 We're also delighted that we will be supporting Kielder Observatory by donating £1 for every completed survey we receive!

Have your say by completing our QES survey here:
🔗 https://web.neechamber.co.uk/cn/atfjs/QES20242

*This is a time limited prize for a single match. T&Cs apply and may be withdrawn at any time.

The number of businesses considering government training and employment schemes is on the rise, with over two-thirds of SMEs planning to invest in their workforce in the year ahead.

Employers are increasingly seeing the value in growing talent from within wih many taking advantage of the wide range of training and employment schemes available to them from apprenticeships and T Level industry placements to Skills Bootcamps, HTQs, and Multiply numeracy courses.

Businesses in the North East looking to get ahead and future proof their workforce can find out more by visiting: https://okt.to/wLg4yl

Are you interested in being involved in some of the regions key events including the Chamber Business Awards and networking?

We're looking for a events co-ordinator to come and join our marketing and events team! 🤩

You’ll be part of an award-winning team that delivers the largest business-to-business events program in the North East!

If you think this role is perfect for you, apply here:
🔗 https://okt.to/f7jwnC

If you would like to find out more information, please email: [email protected]

The moment you've been waiting for... 🥁

Here is our Chamber Business Awards Shortlist 2024! 🤩

A big congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted!

The awards ceremony, kindly sponsored by Bernicia Group, will take place on 27 June at the beautiful The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

Keep an eye out on our socials for when we release the tickets! 👀

Over the past year, nearly three-quarters of SMEs reported seeing other businesses benefits from available technical education schemes.

From apprenticeships and T Level industry placements to Skills Bootcamps, Higher Technical Qualifications, and Multiply numeracy courses – there are a range of government training and employment schemes to keep businesses moving.

With some funding available to support SMEs in the North East, to find out more employers should visit: https://okt.to/dLHBOc

Today is the last FULL day before entries to our Chamber Business Awards 2024 close! 👋

Now onto our last few categories! Today we'll be highlighting a vital national award, Entrepreneur of the Year award, which is kindly sponsored by Intuit

This accolade is awarded to North East entrepreneurs that are the innovators that will shape the future of our region’s business community. The winner of this award will exhibit determination, resilience and an inspiration. Last year's winner, Sam Spoors from Talentheads embodied all that and more. recruitment. Sam prioritised long-term benefits, equipping clients with tools for self-sufficient recruitment, focused on retention and providing comprehensive support throughout the hiring process.

🤩 Winners from our Chamber Business Awards automatically enters you for our most prestigious award of the evening, the ‘Business of the Year’. The business will be selected from the line up of all winners in this year’s business awards as the most exceptional from the entire region’s business community.

Still haven't submitted your application? You have until tomorrow noon time to get them in so be quick!

Enter here 👉 www.necc.co.uk/awards

⏰ The countdown is on! It's the last week to seize the opportunity in the Chamber Business Awards!

Let's put the spotlight on not just one, but two prestigious awards: the Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Pureprint) and the Larger Business of the Year. These awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of businesses of all sizes.

⛪ Last year's Small Business of the Year award winners, The Doxford Group, showcased their extraordinary journey as a rapidly growing luxury hospitality business based in Northumberland. Crafting unforgettable wedding experiences at Doxford Barns and Charlton Hall, they've earned accolades such as "Britain’s funkiest stately home" from The Sunday Times.

💻 Meanwhile last year's winners of the Larger Business of the Year award, razorblue, left us in awe with their impressive journey. Established in 2006, Razorblue offers managed IT, cybersecurity, connectivity, cloud, and software solutions. From humble beginnings with just one client, they've now expanded their reach to over 500 businesses across various industries, they are now setting new standards in the industry. Furthermore, they are strong advocates for apprenticeships and have established their own Razorblue Academy.

Now, it's your turn to share your story, whether you're a small business making waves or a larger organisation leading the charge in your industry.

Submit your entry TODAY🔗 www.necc.co.uk/awards

Exciting News! 🥳

We were thrilled to announce our shortlist for the Inspiring Female Awards last week, kindly sponsored by Bernicia Group

These awards celebrate the remarkable achievements and dedication of women in the North East in their roles.

We can announce that you can NOW secure your seat or table, honouring our amazing nominees, at our final awards ceremony! 📧

Tickets are now LIVE! 📣
https://okt.to/Th6AqE

🏆Here is our Inspiring Females Awards Shortlist for 2023! 🏆

Huge congrats to each of our finalists! 🥳

Lisa Charlotte Davis, Melissa Coutts, Natalie Collins, Susan French

Alison Dunn, Diane Wheeler, Surbhi Vedhara, Tracy Mallam

Alison Maynard, Helen Broadhead, Rachel Redshaw

Amanda Tait, Caraline Robinson, Louella Ge**er

Hogg Global Logistics Ltd , Northern Stage, Recruitrite UK

Brenda McLeish OBE DL, Sarah Thackray, Vikki Jackson-Smith

Jackson Hogg, Learning Curve Group, Muckle LLP

Erica Johnson-Trumper, Juliet Sanders, Michelle Kindleysides, Tara Mackings

Claire Anderson, Jessica Kerr, Rebecca Finlay

Charlotte Birkett, Clare Morley, Natalie Collins

With thanks to our associate sponsor Bernicia Group and each of our category sponsors:
Intuit Hargreaves Handelsbanken Robson Laidler Hartlepool College of Further Education North of Tyne Combined Authority