FLOURISHING businesses from Tyne and Wear and Teesside have been honoured with regional awards for excellence in export, entrepreneurial skill and innovation.

The performances of Medibroker Limited, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, Sunderland software developer Techtonik Limited, PD Teesport and Nestl, in Fawdon, Newcastle, have been recognised by the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) at its business awards ceremony held at Lumley Castle, near Chester-le-Street.

The NECC business of the year award went to the Newcastle factory of Nestl.

Having supplied confectionery since 1958, it has transformed itself in recent years from one of the company's poorest performers to a flagship of reliability and innovation.

It manufactures about 35,000 tonnes of confectionery, from Fruit Pastilles to chocolate brands such as Rolos, employs 540 people and has an annual turnover of £110m.

In-house software development leader Techtonik won the NECC exporter of the year award for its work in innovative business solutions and the consumer mobile phone market.

NECC entrepreneur of the year Medibroker recently launched a website, www.treatmentchoices.co.uk, which offers British Citizens on long NHS waiting lists immediate cost-effective surgery in quality hospitals in France, Belgium, Germany and South Africa.

PD Teesport won the NECC award for innovation and technology. One of the UK's top three ports handling more than 6,000 shipments and 50m tonnes each year, it is the main cargo handling facility at Tees Dock.

Last year, PD Teesport built and successfully opened a second container terminal known as TCT2.

The regional chamber business award winners will go forward to the British Chambers of Commerce national awards at the Guildhall, London, next month.