Finalists heading for BUSINESSiQ Awards at Ramside Hall on April 25

When you look down this list of the finalists in the 2024 BUSINESSiQ Awards, you'll find the perfect mix of huge brands that have led the region for many years and the SMEs, start-ups and innovators who make up the next generation.

It's going to be quite a night at Ramside Hall on April 25, following the  success of the inaugural event last year. We've come back to Ramside and we've asked our 2023 host Alfie Joey to lead proceedings once again.

This year’s guest speaker will be Dame Irene Hays, owner and chair of Hays Travel, who will be sharing her own amazing business journey and as well as entertainment throughout the evening, our headline act will be hypnotist and mind reader Aaron Calvert, whose critically acclaimed work has earned him sell-out shows across the UK.

But above all it is a chance to applaud the success and drive of all of our businesses. There are still some tickets left, just CLICK HERE.

Let's have a look at the companies who will be in line for the top prize on April 25. Who gets your vote?

Business of The Year

Ramsdens: Growing demand for pawnbroking services and higher gold prices have driven up profits at this high street favourite.

Greggs: The bakery chain has revealed plans to open up to another 160 stores in the year ahead as it cheered a strong end to 2023. 

Applebridge Family: This Middlesbrough-based construction group operating across the North of England is poised to exceed £100 million in turnover in 2023 as it celebrates ten years in business.

Community Impact

Yarm School: The leading independent school for pupils 3-18 in Teesside and County Durham, with an aim to provide pupils with the attributes they need to develop into adults who will contribute positively to society.

Newcastle Building Society: A mutual organisation owned by members and accountable to customers and communities to connect them with a better financial future.

Karbon Homes: With almost 30,000 homes across diverse communities, Karbon focusses on delivering good quality homes, excellent service to customers, and to help shape strong, sustainable places for communities.

Believe Housing Limited: A not-for-profit housing association with more than 18,000 homes in the North East of England and 640 employees.

New Business of The Year

Fearne & Rosie: On a mission to reduce the amount of sugar consumed in households with a range of reduced sugar jams.

SeerBI: A team of data scientists passionate about digital trade with experience in data analysis and AI / Machine Learning helping to automate and digitalise industries.

Reclaro: This Software as a Service business specialises in providing strategy software to help companies connect their strategic goals with day-to-day operations.

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Training and Skills 

Orangebox Training Solutions: Hartlepool-based Orangebox provides pre-employment courses and an array of professional development courses including leadership and management.

Wilton Group: Wilton Engineering’s Apprenticeship Academy welcomed a cohort of plating/welding
apprentices, showcases its commitment to developing a diverse workforce, catering to individuals ranging in age from 16 to 32.

Kleek Apprenticeships: A national hairdressing, barbering and beauty therapy training provider, offering academy-based apprenticeships in its five academies - three of which are based in the North East in Darlington, Stockton and Newcastle, alongside work-based apprenticeship training available across England.

The 2023 event was a great success (Image: Newsquest)

Creative Business of The Year

Animmersion UK: Founded in 2006, Animmersion UK delivers digital visualisation services that supports clients with large-scale or complex requirements to drive revenue or sustain employee and customer engagement.

Raby Castle: Restoration work is underway on the 18th century Coach House and Stables, a key part of ‘The Rising’ development, the ambitious project to restore historic buildings to create a unique new visitor experience.

New World Design: With 30 years feature film experience and creating the world's first bullet time
experiential rig, New World is an early pioneer of commercial bullet time photography in the UK.

Diversity and Inclusion 

Middlesbrough College Group: As the largest Further Education College in Teesside, it ensures that the whole community has access to a wide range of regionally significant technical and professional specialisms.

Eagles Wings Consultancy: The company works with the business community to break down barriers by recognising the needs of those with disability in the workplace and through training coaching and advice to help find solutions and create an inclusive culture.

Darlington Building Society: The Society has established itself as a beacon of diversity and inclusion in the North East, with a dedicated focus on building bridges between corporate and personal aspects.

Employee Health and Wellbeing 

Gestamp Tallent Limited: A world-class designer, developer and manufacturer of Chassis structural and suspension products to customers such as BMW, Ford, Nissan, Honda & Jaguar. The Aycliffe Plant is one of thirteen global Research & Development plants

Karbon Homes: The organisation says its mission is to provide a strong foundation for life, good health and positive wellbeing which enables more than 1,000 colleagues to perform at their best and feel engaged.

Razorblue Group: Committed to creating a positive and understanding workplace that welcomes feedback and fully supports its workforce, from engineers and front-line service desk to project and accounts teams.

Export Champion 

Cleveland Cable Company: Founded in 1978, a global cable and cable accessory supplier delivering complete cable solutions to some of the  world’s most demanding industries.

Tomlinson Hall Ltd: Established in 1919 and  based in Billingham, this award-winning pump distributor and pump manufacturer addresses global industry challenges to export their products to more than 80 countries.

Chemian Technology: A global leader in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, including its Citrepel range of naturally based insect repellent active ingredients that are sold across the world.

Innovation Award

Paul Cooper - Pocket Sergeant: The company pioneered an app that transformed the way law enforcement operates, with features including a detailed A-Z criminal law guide, checklists, offline accessibility, and real-time updates.

Kromek: The company’s innovative work extends to biological detection projects, including contributions related to COVID-19, nuclear detection, and medical screening.

Wootzano: Creates highly dexterous robots for the picking and packing of delicate, soft produce in post-harvest. The system helps supplement a struggling labour force, reduces food waste, and lower carbon emissions.

Net Zero Award

Redcar and Cleveland College (Education Training Collective): With the emergence of a green cluster for global businesses,  Redcar and Cleveland College has aligned itself to current and future demands, to support the training needs of employers and ensure people from our communities have the right skills.

Alfanar Group: The group is developing a £1.5bn waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Teesside that will be the biggest and most advanced of its kind in the world.

Low Carbon Materials: A climate tech company focusing on developing low-carbon, next-generation construction material alternatives in the race to Net Zero.

Don't forget, just CLICK HERE to get your tickets