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Seven North East business owners named finalists for 2026 Entrepreneurial Awards

Seven North East business owners have been named as finalists in the 2026 North East Entrepreneurial Awards, ahead of a major celebration of entrepreneurship this November.

Hosted by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, as part of North East Entrepreneurship Week, the awards have celebrated the people behind North East businesses since 2004, with the finalists revealed for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Entrepreneur of the Year, two of the five awards being presented this year.

The finalists for Entrepreneurial Excellence:

• Imran Anwar, Alt Labs
  Founder of innovation and digital product agency Alt Labs, Imran has grown the business beyond the North East, with a presence in London and Riyadh, and was named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work in 2026.
  
  
• Joanna Feeley, TrendBible
  Founder and CEO of TrendBible, a future trends agency that has built an international reputation from its North East base, Joanna works with global brands across more than 35 countries. 
  
  
• Michael Hall and Andy Gough, eQuality Solutions Group
  Michael and Andy have led the transformation of eQuality Solutions Group (eQS) into a growing national business through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
  
  
• Kate Rose, TUTTI
  Kate founded the North East jewellery and lifestyle brand more than 20 years ago, and it’s now stocked by leading retailers in the UK and internationally. 

The 2026 finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year:

• Jonny Catto, iPac Packaging Innovations
  As co-founder, Jonny has taken the business from a start-up into a major UK manufacturer, outgrowing its first factory and opening a second, larger site to meet demand from food and pharmaceutical customers.

• Vikki Jackson-Smith, J&B Recycling
  Over almost three decades, Vicky grew J&B into one of the North East’s leading recycling businesses, employing over 200 people and processing more than 200,000 tonnes of waste and recyclable material each year before a successful exit.
  
  
• Tim Wilks, Lane7
  Tim founded Lane7 in Newcastle in 2013 and has built a distinctive competitive socialising business, combining games, technology, food and drink with 24 venues in the UK, Ireland and Germany. 

Together, the finalists represent businesses built in the North East but operating across the UK and internationally, spanning technology, manufacturing, leisure, retail, professional services and recycling.

Entrepreneurial Excellence celebrates entrepreneurs building strong, well-run and resilient businesses with current turnover of less than £25 million, with consistent performance, strong leadership and a positive contribution to the region. Entrepreneur of the Year recognises entrepreneurs who have taken their businesses to significant scale, with revenues exceeding £25 million, demonstrating sustained growth and a measurable contribution to the North East economy.

The remaining three awards will be named without a shortlist. The Caroline Theobald Award, for an entrepreneur who gives their time to mentor and champion others, and the Lifetime Achievement Award will both be announced on the night of the Awards. The new 'One to Watch' prize will go to one of 20 entrepreneurs on a brand-new Ones to Watch Index, to be unveiled at a dedicated event at Durham University Business School on Wednesday 4 November.

Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “Entrepreneurial success doesn’t all look the same. Some founders build businesses that grow at an extraordinary pace, while others build exceptional companies steadily over many years. And both deserve to be recognised.

“What connects this year’s finalists is the quality of what they have built and the leadership behind it. They are creating opportunities, employing people, developing strong teams, and showing what is possible from here in the North East.

“The Awards give us an opportunity to step back for an evening and celebrate those achievements properly.”

This year’s Awards will also form part of the first North East Entrepreneurship Week, running from 11 to 20 November under the theme The Place to Rise. Led by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and backed by organisations from across business, finance, education and the public sector, the Week will bring together events and activities across the region designed to make entrepreneurship more visible, connect founders with experience and opportunity, and encourage more people to start and grow businesses in the North East.

The North East Entrepreneurial Awards will take place on Thursday 19 November at Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge, bringing entrepreneurs, business leaders and supporters from across the region together for one of the Week’s major celebrations.  Tickets are on sale now and open to everyone who champions and supports entrepreneurship in the region. 

Full North East Entrepreneurship Week programme: www.NorthEastEntrepreneurshipWeek.co.uk 

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entrepreneurs' Forum .