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North East Small Business of the Year award down to ‘special team’ with ‘industry leading expertise’

Fairgrieve Compression Moulding General Manager Barry Davidson has hailed the ‘incredible commitment and expertise’ of his ‘special’ team for helping secure the prestigious title of the North East’s Small Business of the Year.

The award came at the North East Business Awards last night, a glittering awards ceremony held in the Grand Marquee at Hardwick Hall.

Mr Davidson attended alongside business owner Daniel Beaumont, Office Manager Dawn Stavers, Production Manager Johnathon Hutchinson and Marketing Manager Marcus Thrall.

The awards ‘celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and creativity and honour brilliant people going the extra mile for their customers and clients’, shining a light on the fantastic things businesses are doing to make a difference across the North East.

Fairgrieves had already been crowned winners in a regional category for Northumberland & Tyneside, Durham, Sunderland & South Tyneside and Teesside, earlier in the year. That put the business through to the grand final last night, alongside dozens of the region’s leading businesses.

“I have to say that we were absolutely thrilled to be crowned regional winners earlier this year and delighted to be invited to be part of a night celebrating the success of so many brilliant businesses from across the North East,” said Mr Davidson.

“We are obviously very proud of what we have achieved here at Fairgrieves and the products we supply to our customers in the UK and overseas, but when you go to events like this you are aware that you are up against some fantastic businesses with their own similar success stories.

“I think there were probably a few things which set us apart from the competition, and that is our 110-year history as a North East manufacturer, the fact that the business is not only still here having survived so many challenges, but is currently thriving, and the fact that we have enjoyed such a successful period over the past 18 months which has been down to the incredible commitment, talent and expertise of a truly special team of people.

“I have to say also that none of this would have been achievable without the investment and support from Daniel, who recognised the potential of this business two years ago, and continues to invest in UK manufacturing both here and at a number of other businesses.”

Business deserving of recognition and profile

Mr Beaumont said he was thrilled to see Fairgrieves collect the award, which followed on from being Highly Commended at the national 2023 Engineering and Manufacturing Awards in London earlier this month, in the Manufacturing Productivity Improvement category.

The business is currently recruiting to add operatives to its factory floor having secured a 50% uplift in customer orders in 2023.

He said: “It is fantastic to see the business growing and getting the recognition and profile it deserves.

“I feel so proud of what we have achieved over the past two years in breathing new life into a manufacturing business with such a rich history, but which also importantly has so much to offer to other businesses now.

“Huge credit has to go to Barry for transforming the way the business operates, the organisation and methods he has implemented, and for motivating the team to become leaders not only in their field, but in our region, as was recognised last night.

“It has been a team effort and everybody should feel exceptionally proud.”

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