The NET 250: The North East's top 250 businesses revealed

Nissan UK has been crowned the North East’s top-performing business at a special awards ceremony.

The car maker took the number one spot in The NET 250 – which ranks organisations by turnover – with annual revenues of £5.04 billion.

The Wearside-based firm also walked away with the number one company in Sunderland accolade at the event, which was presented by Bdaily publisher NET alongside Newcastle University Business School and global professional services firm PwC.

Attended by more than 200 guests at Gateshead’s Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, the ceremony saw further awards handed out to companies from Northumberland to Tees Valley for topping their respective geographical areas.

Sunderland-based social housing regeneration organisation RE:GEN Group secured the most recently founded company award thanks to turnover of £63.82 million, while Middlesbrough-headquartered national operator Cleveland Cable Company was named the top privately-owned company with £491.32 million turnover.

And Lee Hartley, founder and chief executive of wealth management firm Fairstone, received the special recognition award for his work in leading the company from start-up to successful national operator.

Steven Hugill, Bdaily editor, said: “Congratulations to all category winners in The NET 250, and to every company that made it onto the list.

“The North East’s business community is filled with organisations rich in spirit, ingenuity and skill, and The NET 250 provides a perfect snapshot of the companies making great strides, both locally and nationally.”

The NET 250 category winners are:

Number one company in the North East, in partnership with Womble Bond Dickinson

Nissan UK: Turnover £5.04 billion

Number one company in Northumberland, in partnership with Hill Dickinson LLP

Lynemouth Power: Turnover £528.86 million

Number one company in North Tyneside, in partnership with Scaleup North East

Sage Group: Turnover £2.18 billion

Number one company in Newcastle, in partnership with S&W

Go-Ahead Group: Turnover £3.06 billion

Number one company in Gateshead, in partnership with Jackson Hogg 

Vertu Motors: Turnover £4.72 billion

Number one company in South Tyneside, in partnership with Motivait

J Barbour & Sons Ltd: Turnover £321.79 million

Number one company in Sunderland, in partnership with Northstar Ventures

Nissan UK: Turnover £5.04 billion

Number one company in County Durham, in partnership with Kynren

Northumbrian Water Group: Turnover £952.40 million

Number one company in Tees Valley, in partnership with Point North

ZIGUP: Turnover £1.83 billion

Most recently founded company, in partnership with North East Chamber of Commerce

RE:GEN Group: Turnover £63.82 million

Top privately-owned company, in partnership with Community Foundation North East

Cleveland Cable Company: Turnover £491.32 million

Special Recognition Award, in partnership with PwC

Lee Hartley, Fairstone Group founder and chief executive

Read The NET 250 list in full here

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →