Cream of North East exporters honoured

The cream of North East exporting businesses have been honoured with awards at a ceremonial dinner at Sunderland.

Six award winners were announced at the North East Exporters’ Awards Dinner at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

The annual awards ceremony and dinner recognises the achievements of the region’s top export champions whose efforts are making a huge contribution to both the regional and UK economies.

Now in their eighteenth year, the awards are sponsored by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and HSBC.

Hexham-based soft drinks firm, Fentimans Ltd received the New Exporter/SME Exporter Award for demonstrating exceptional achievement in export.

The award, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment was in the category of a business with turnover of up to £25m.

The High Growth Exporter Award, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment went to Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd.

The Wallsend based manufacturer of remote intervention equipment specialises in subsea engineering.

Middlesbrough-based Ecco Finishing Supplies Ltd walked away with the award for Export Team of the Year.

The company supplies paint applications, blast machinery and fire protection equipment and were awarded for demonstrating significant added value to their business through personnel development and successful implementation of their export sales strategy.

In the category for businesses with turnover in excess of £25m, Aesica Pharmaceuticals took home the Large Exporter Award.

The Cramlington company manufactures drugs and carries out clinical trials.

The overall winner chosen by the heat winners of the North East Business Awards was, Velocity.

The road surface repair service providers from Hendon took home the title, North East Business Awards Exporter of the Year.

The Overall Exporter of the Year Award, sponsored by HSBC was given to Redcar-based, Guardian Marine Testing Ltd, who provide a range of fuel testing and quality analysis services for marine fuels.

Pat Dellow, Area Commercial Director at HSBC said: “International trade is at the heart of HSBC – as a bank formed to facilitate international trade between Hong Kong and the rest of the world is it built into our heritage and forms a key part of our efforts today.

“HSBC helped numerous North East companies grow their international business during 2012 and we’re delighted to once again support the North East Exporters’ Awards to recognise the efforts of forward-thinking individuals and companies that boost the region’s economy by taking their products all over the world.”

Key speaker at the awards dinner was Matthew Smith, Director General of the Middle East Association (MEA), the UK’s leading business forum for promoting business with the Middle East and North Africa.

Prior to joining the MEA in October 2012, Matthew spent 30 years in international management with HSBC, including management roles in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Brunei as well as other roles in France and the USA.

James Ramsbotham, NECC Chief Executive, said: “The North East continues to perform admirably in terms of exports and remains the only English region with a positive balance of trade in exports.

“Our manufacturing prowess, coupled with our growing ability to sell our products and services overseas, sets the North East apart.

“NECC, through the global chamber network, is committed to forging new trade links across the world and continues to work hard to provide opportunities for North East businesses to export overseas.”

A special award was also presented to Geoff Ford, Chairman of Ford Aerospace and Ford Component Manufacturing, of South Shields for their contribution to exports.

David Coppock, UKTI Regional Director for the North East, said: “The achievements of our export heroes should not be underestimated - their efforts have helped the North East reap the rewards of going global.

“In the last 12 months, up to the end of December 2012, a total of £13.69 billion worth of goods and services were exported from the North East around the globe.

“We’re particularly delighted to be able to recognise the achievements of Ford, an engineering company that has this year seen its export sales jump from £1.45m to £2m year and its total sales now top £11m for the first time.

“Companies such as Ford and our award winners are proving time and again that the North East has what it takes to compete on the world stage and we hope that by highlighting their success at the annual North East Exporters’ Awards we can encourage others to take up the export for growth challenge.

“This month also sees the launch of a new Exporting is GREAT campaign.

“We are proud that exporting has been incorporated into the wider GREAT campaign, which has been shortlisted for two prestigious national and international awards.

“This latest campaign will allow UKTI to get the positive message about exporting out to a greater audience and hopefully encourage those who have been thinking about taking up the export challenge to take the next step, which is where UKTI can help.”

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