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Double delight as business and managing director secure awards in regional heats of North East Business Awards

Fairgrieve Compression Moulding is thrilled to have learned that the business – and managing director Barry Davidson – have been named winners in the regional heats of the 2025 North East Business Awards.

The company has been named the Small Business of the Year for the Durham, Sunderland & South Tyneside heat, with Mr Davidson taking the title of Business Person of the Year for the same area.

Both will now progress to go head-to-head with the winners of the other two sub-regional heats for the overall North East title, which will be announced at The Grand Final in September, at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield.

It is the third year in succession that Fairgrieves has won the regional heat of a business category, having also gone on to win the overall North East prize in the Small Business category in 2023, and the Made in the North East prize in 2024.

Mr Davidson says it is an ‘incredible achievement’ for the business to be named regional winners for a third year in succession, and says he is ‘humbled’ by his own personal recognition.

“I’m absolutely delighted for everybody involved in the business. It’s an incredible achievement to be regional winners once again, having won overall categories for the entire North East for the past two years,” he said.

“The award for myself is something of a surprise as I was not aware my colleagues had nominated me.

“I’m really humbled by it, and whilst I am of course delighted with the recognition, I must say that everything we do here is a team effort, from having a very supportive owner to a dedicated and talented team in the office and on the factory floor.”

Judges impressed by firm’s performance, contract wins and management

As part of Fairgrieves’ submission for the awards, judges were informed of the firm’s significant success over the past 12 months.

This has seen it secure an influx of orders including supplying thousands of confectionary trays to a world-leading sweets and snacks specialist, and a contract potentially worth many millions over future years to supply hundreds of thousands of electrical parts for worldwide distribution.

Also included in the submission were details of another new contract to manufacture large compression moulded parts to a company run by one of the UK’s highest-profile business figures.

The demand for products has led to the factory returning to 24-hour operation, and a recruitment drive being launched which will see the size of the Fairgrieves workforce double by the end of 2025.

“As a business which has been established 112 years in the North East, we take great pride in being recognised alongside the many other fantastic businesses, across all sectors, from our region,” added Mr Davidson.

“The events we have attended in the past two years have showcased the incredible talent and products across the North East, and for our team to again be amongst those hailed as the best, fills us all with great pride.”

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