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Newcastle Business Awards: Winners Revealed

Newcastle’s entrepreneurial and innovative business talent was celebrated at the Newcastle Business Awards, sponsored in part by Bdaily, last night (Thursday 17 November) at The Beacon, Westgate Road, Newcastle.

Made possible by Groundwork South Tyneside & Newcastle in association with Siemens, the awards represent Groundwork’s vision of ‘changing places, changing lives’ by inspiring communities through enterprise.

The event, now in its second year, promoted the ethos and practice of businesses and the community working together, reiterated through headline speeches delivered by Andrew Watts, Groundworks CEO and Graham Hartley, MD Siemens Power Generation Services.

BBC’s Alfie Joey was also on hand as host for the evening to help cheer on the room’s enterprising talents.

Headline sponsors Siemens began the prize-giving announcing Conleth Maenpaa, founder of Lindisfarne Festival, as winner of the Special Recognition Award for 2016.

Not just about the music, Siemens commended the festival’s ‘unique,brand identity centering on fun, togetherness and nature’.

Conleth said: “Both myself and the Lindisfarne Festival team are honoured to accept the Siemens’ Special Recognition Award.

“We have worked very hard over the last few years to build a credible festival brand for the region to enjoy and we are overwhelmed by the support we have had.

We had a vision of what we wanted Lindisfarne Festival to be and we stuck to that vision, so to be recognised for that with this award is incredible.“

Graham Hartley added: “We are delighted to be able to award this accolade to Conleth Maenpaa. He is a shining example of entrepreneurial endeavour, innovation and excellence and what you can achieve with hard work, self belief and resilience.”

Categories in the Newcastle Business Awards included the Bdaily-backed Digital Innovation in Business, Food, Drink and Hospitality Award, Social Enterprise/Charity of the year, Green Business of The Year, Excellence in Marketing, Trainee/Apprentice, Entrepreneur of the year, New Business of the Year and SME of the year.

Muhammad Ali, Owner of Newcastle software firm Senserve, scooped the Digital Innovation in Business prize.

Muhammad said: “I am very happy because this is a recognition of continued hard work and dedication. We have been going for four years now and this shows us that we are going in the right direction. I thank the judges for giving us validation.”

Kathryn Dishman, Owner at PR and social media consultancy KD Communications, took home the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Kathryn said: “It was an honour and a privilege to be shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the Year award - to actually receive it has made me hugely proud!

“The calibre of the businesses involved in tonight’s awards has been so high. It was really nice to share their achievements and celebrate the home grown talent within our region.

“Huge congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted and those who won. It was definitely an evening to remember.”

Newcastle-based creative marketing and design agency Vicki Stone Marketing took home the Excellence in Marketing Award.

Owner Vicki Stone commented: “Our team have all earned our agency stripes working for some of the region’s largest advertising and creative agencies on Global, National and Regional brands from TV, to press and digital. This time it was really satisfying to win an award for our own agency.”

“Our ability to blend and deliver traditional and digital marketing is already seeing ambitious growth plans being achieved.”

Full Award Winner List:

Digital Innovation in Business - Senserve

Food, Drink and Hospitality Award - The Pie Shop

Social Enterprise/Charity of the year - Shared Interest Society

Green Business of The Year - Riverside Falconry

Excellence in Marketing - Vicki Stone Marketing

Trainee/Apprentice - Kieran Nelson

Entrepreneur of the year - Kathryn Dishman

New Business of the Year - Green Eagle

SME of the year - Hedgehog Lab

Sponsored in part by Bdaily, the Newcastle Business Awards showcased the region’s innovative and entrepreneurial talent. Click here to sign up to our daily bulletin to keep up with the latest business news, breakthroughs and talent.