2006
(06/04/2006) North East businesses shortlisted for AXA 'Business Oscars'
AXA today announced that four North East businesses have been shortlisted as finalists and a further two highly commended in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year's prestigious National Business Awards - dubbed by Gordon Brown as the 'Business Oscars'.
The shortlisted businesses battling to win the title of the North East AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year are as follows:
- Paragon Rapid Technologies Ltd, Darlington ( www.paragon-rt.com ) - Producers of high quality prototype models to support designers and manufacturers.
- Aquajoy Bathlifts Ltd, Consett ( www.aqua-joy.com ) - Specialists in bathlift provision in the UK.
- Martek Marine Ltd, Rotherham ( www.martek-marine.com ) - Manufacturers and suppliers of safety and environmental monitoring equipment to the global marine industry.
- National Locums, Hull ( www.nationallocums.com ) - Recruiters of temporary healthcare personnel to the NHS and private sectors.
The Highly Commended North East businesses in the AXA Small to Medium Businesses of the Year Awards are:
- Nunwood, Leeds
- Applied Language Solutions, Huddersfield
The winner of the North East AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Award category will be announced in July and will not only receive a day's support from an AXA Business Consultant but will also get the chance to go forward to the National Business Awards final at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 7 November.
The AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award will recognise businesses for their entrepreneurship and innovation and will seek to highlight the importance of management excellence in maintaining a successful business today and continuing to grow it in the future.
In addition to winning a day with an AXA Business Consultant, if the regional winner is successful in the national grand final they will win a place on the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business Masterclass that takes place at a chateau in France. Over the three-day course the delegates will have their management and business skills finely tuned by some of AXA's leading business experts.
Douglas Barnett, the AXA North East Regional Judge, said: "I am delighted to have been asked to take part in judging the North East finalists in the second year of the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Awards. It was a difficult decision selecting the finalists from the large number of excellent businesses in the region, which is why a further two companies received Highly Commended awards. They are all outstanding examples of the North East's most dynamic companies and we wish them all the best of luck in the final."
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About AXA
AXA is a world leader in financial protection. AXA's operations are diverse with major operations in Western Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. AXA employs 120,000 staff and tied agents and, as of 31 December 2005, had € 1,064 billion in assets under management. AXA reported total IFRS revenues of € 72 billion and IFRS underlying earnings of € 3,258 million for the full year 2005. Our previous company performance is not a guide to how we may perform in the future.
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