Newcastle College was last night crowned Company of the Year at the North-East's biggest and best business awards. The college took the top prize at the regional grand final of the North-East Business Awards 2005, which is organised by The Journal and its Teesside sister paper the Evening Gazette. The awards formed the climax of a black-tie dinner at the Hardwick Hall hotel in Sedgefield last night, which saw the cream of the North-East business community addressed by guest speaker Trade Secretary Alastair Darling, deputising for Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had been called away to the US. Judges picked Newcastle College for its combination of outstanding performance and ambitious investment. The college, which has 44,000 students and has made investments worth £40m, was honoured alongside 10 other companies which excelled in their sectors. Mr Darling said: "One thing I think is important is that yes, there can be difficulties, but when things are going well and there are things to celebrate you should shout about it." Newcastle College principal Jackie Fisher said: "We are working hard to address the skills agenda of the region and sometimes we feel that you don't recognise we are a business too, with all the business values you have and we aspire to have. "On behalf of Newcastle College I want to thank you all massively for the recognition. You have given further education colleges and to the learning and skills agenda that we need if the region is going to get where it wants to be." Newcastle Chronicle & Journal managing director Steve Brown paid tribute to the entrants, judges and sponsors of the annual event. He said: "Since this became a regional event in 2001 we have had over 1,300 different companies enter these awards. "That 81% of the companies who entered this year were companies who had not entered before ensured that it was an event that stayed fresh and that got a level of engagement from business that is unique to the North-East." Other prizes were presented to Crafter's Companion for Small Business, The Esh Group for Business in the Community, Analox Sensor Technology for Export, YooNoo for Internet & ICT, Durham Scientific Crystals for Innovation, BP Cats Terminal for Environment, PD Teesport for Learning, Training & Skills, Centre for Process Innovation for Technology, Watson Burton for Services and Tanfield Engineering Systems for Manufacturing. --------------------------------------------------------- And the winner is: North-East Company of the Year: Newcastle College Small Business Award: Sponsor - Business Link
Winner: Crafter's Companion
Runners-up: Cleveland Biotech, Insite Environment Business in the Community Award: Sponsor - Northern Rock
Winner: The Esh Group
Runners-up: Johnson Matthey Catalysts, Port of Tyne Export Award: Sponsor - UK Trade & Investment
Winner: Analox Sensor Technology
Runners-up: Aquajoy Bathlifts, Multichem Internet & ICT Award: Sponsor - TSG
Winner: YOONOO
Runners-up: North-East Sheets & Panels, Tyne & Wear Museums Innovation Award: Sponsor - Barclays
Winner: Durham Scientific Crystals
Runners-up: YooNoo, Seven Stories: The Centre for Childrenundefineds Books Environment Award: Sponsor - Northumbrian Water
Winner: BP Cats Terminal
Runners-up: Nissan Motor Manufacturing, Pfizer Learning, Training & Skills Award: Sponsor - Teesside University
Winner: PD Teesport
Runners-up: Tates Security Services, Statexcolourprint Technology Award: Sponsor - Sage
Winner: Centre for Process Innovation
Runners-up: Bison Bede, Jade Integration Services Award: Sponsor - Sunderland City Council
Winner: Watson Burton
Runners-up: Sunderland Housing Group, Faithful & Gould Manufacturing: Sponsor - Baker Tilly
Winner: Tanfield Engineering Services
Runners-up: Roman, Elfab | 
