Another flagship North East business is backing The Northern Echo’s BUSINESSiQ Awards – to be held at Wynyard Hall in partnership with Amazon.

Cummins will present the Innovation Award – one of the highlights of the evening in a region where so much groundbreaking work is helping shape its future.

The awards will be transformed for 2025 after our announcement that the headline sponsor will be Amazon – one of the most successful businesses in the world and a major investor across the North East – and the venue will be none other than Wynyard Hall – one of the most prestigious locations in the region.

The event will be held on Friday, April 11 when our guests and sponsors will be able to enjoy the luxury and style of Wynyard, including the Statue Gallery, Library, Mirror Room and Ballroom before the awards are handed out in the Conservatory.

  • NOMINATE: If yours is a business that is excelling and growing – or you know of one that deserves to be part of one of the biggest business events of the year – CLICK HERE and nominate them for an award.
  • BE A PARTNER: If you want to join Amazon and Wynyard Hall as a partner in the BUSINESSiQ Awards, you can sponsor a category or co-host a part of the evening by contacting ryan.fenwick@localiq.co.uk

Cummins is a powerhouse of the regional economy whose own innovations are helping drive a transition towards a wider range of power technologies, from the latest generation diesel, natural gas, and hydrogen engine platforms to hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric powertrains.

A new £13 million Powertrain Test Facility at its Darlington campus will enable the company to develop and test those power solutions. Taking four years to complete, the 738 square metre two-storey facility means Cummins’ engineers can now test drivelines for on-road use from compact SUVs to 44-ton trucks and double-decker buses, along with off-road use in construction and agricultural machines.

Communications Co-ordinator Jessica Highfield said the Innovation category was always a natural choice for them.

“Along with thousands of North East businesses, Cummins constantly takes a pioneering approach to lead such rapid change in our sector. Standing still is not an option; we all must think ahead each time and be brave enough to try something new.

“That means we are always investing in the future of our employees, the company and the region.

“We chose this category right from the start so that we could applaud anyone in the North East who has that same approach and is willing to try something new, because they have the skills and belief to make change happen.

“The BUSINESSiQ Awards are now a regular fixture and this time they seem to have taken them to a whole new level, with a completely new format. It’s an innovative approach - so no wonder we’re looking forward to this one.”