Cramlington-based Transmission Dynamics has been named North East Business of the Year at the region's top business awards. The technology firm took the top prize at the North East Business Awards, the annual celebration organised by The Journal and its sister paper on Teesside, the Gazette.
From consultancy to global technology business
Founded 30 years ago, Transmission Dynamics has evolved from a specialist engineering consultancy into a global technology business serving customers in more than 80 countries. The success follows its strongest financial year to date, driven by international demand for its technology across a number of critical industries.
The company was one of 11 winners on the night. Middlesbrough's Cognitive HealthTech won the Start-Up Award, and Barnard Castle's William Smith Group 1832 was named Best Place To Work. Individual awards went to Laura Edgar, owner of Aura Infection Control, who was named Business Person of the Year, and Henrietta Newble, of AnFiTest, who won the Rising Star award.
Outstanding Contribution award
The prize for Outstanding Contribution to North East Business went to Hugh Welch, from Newcastle solicitors Muckle LLP, who was praised for combining excellence in his day job with a deep seated commitment to making the North East a better place.
The event, held at Hardwick Hall near Sedgefield, was introduced by Journal editor Graeme Whitfield, who said: "I have been doing this welcome speech for a few years now and I've noticed that I keep saying a version of the same thing every year.
"I say how great it is to see so many brilliant North East companies in the room, and I say that it's even more brilliant that you're doing so well when conditions for business are tough right now. I said that after the Liz Truss mini-Budget, and I said it around the cost-of-living crisis and I said it after the rise in National Insurance that put so much pressure on companies like yours.
"I keep thinking that one year I will come here and not have to say that. But this is not that year.
"So here we go again: you are doing brilliant things. And you are doing those brilliant things despite significant headwinds locally, nationally and internationally."
Full list of winners
The awards are supported by headline partner Sage, associate partner Newcastle University and category partners Azets, Made Smarter, Northumbrian Water, Oliver Wyman, Rust-Oleum and Tees Valley Combined Authority.
The winners were: North East Business of the Year: Transmission Dynamics; Best Place to Work: William Smith Group 1832; Business Person of the Year: Laura Edgar; Business for Good: Binding Solutions; Growth Award: Neptune North; Innovation Award: OnlyCat; Made in the North East: Ford Aerospace; Rising Star: Henrietta Newble; Small Business of the Year: Burger-Drop; Start-Up Award: Cognitive HealthTech; Outstanding Contribution to North East Business: Hugh Welch, Muckle LLP.
