Tickets are on sale NOW for one of the biggest Northern Echo events - the first BUSINESSiQ Awards at Ramside Hall on April 28th, hosted by Alfie Joey and with a keynote speech from Dragon’s Den star Sara Davies.

With so much business success across the North East, we knew that we needed to find the right way to recognise, applaud and reward companies large and small that were contributing to the region’s ever-growing profile

 

To order your tickets CLICK HERE

 

Our host, writer, comic, actor and presenter Alfie Joey told us the Awards will be a particularly special occasion for him: ‘As a County Durham lad, who was brought up in a Northern Echo household, I am so proud to host the first BUSINESSiQ awards.

“Sometimes in the North East we can feel left behind, cut off or not recognised for the great work we do, so now is the time to shine a light on our brilliant businesses.

“This will be the perfect occasion to sing from the rooftops about the exciting local visionaries and companies who really are making waves in the world of business.”

And who better to be our VIP guest than Sara Davies MBE, who grew up in County Durham and still lives in the region. She founded Crafter’s Companion, a crafter’s supply company, whilst at university in 2005.

In 2019, she joined BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den as the show’s youngest ever female investor and became a household name in 2021 when she was a contestant on BBC’s hit show Strictly Come Dancing.

She said: “It won’t come as a shock to many people that I’m really proud to call the North East my home - I talk about it a lot!

“Just one of the reasons that I’m so proud of our region is because it’s overflowing with innovation and ideas being realised by hardworking, determined people with tons of tenacity. It’s an honour to be here to recognise some of that amazing success.”

There is also still time to nominate a business or leader who is worth recognising for an outstanding performance. 

 

CLICK HERE to nominate a business

 

You now have until the end of Sunday (January 22) to cast your vote, which could be the vital one that finds our winners in a range of categories:

Training and Skills

Innovation

New Business of the Year

Creative Business of the Year

Export Champion

Diversity and Inclusion Award

Health and Wellbeing

Community Impact

Net Zero Award

And then to finish the night, the Business of the Year and - chosen by BUSINESSiQ - the Inspirational Leader of the Year .

Join us for a great business night out.