Winner: GEM PARTNERHIP
Aycliffe Business Make Your Mark Awards
SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by
THE FINALISTS
GEM Partnership volume operations manager Chris Boughen received the Service Business award from Jon Harris of category sponsor razorblue.
Winner: GEM PARTNERHIP
Daily success stories are what continue to inspire recruitment agency – and Make
Your Mark award-winner – GEM Partnership.
Established in 2009, GEM Partnership is a leading provider of complete training and recruitment solutions.
And the firm, which has two offices on Aycliffe Business Park, is now the proud holder of the Service Business of the Year title, having pipped Carvers and Masfix to the prize.
But volume operations manager Chris Boughen, who received the trophy from John Harris of category sponsor, IT firm razorblue, said changing lives by getting people into jobs meant it feels like GEM wins every day.
He said:“ The success story you see here tonight of us winning this award is great, but it’ s all about daily success stories – when you see that person getting the job they’ ve been desperate to get, someone taking the next step in their career by getting training or someone getting a job that’ s going to help them support their family – that’ s daily recognition for us.”
More than 35 people work directly for GEM – but Chris said it’ s the 1,000“ plus” people on payrolls that matter most.
Saying GEM was delighted to get recognition from its peers and local businesses, he added:“ We take massive pride in supporting people from all different walks of life get into a career, stay in a career and develop it.
“ It could be someone not currently working – giving them the skills to get into sustainable employment and stay in employment.
“ But then the journey doesn’ t stop there with us because we can develop them further on – succession planning for businesses and keeping talent within businesses.
“ It’ s the impact we have on people’ s lives that means so much to us. People go to work to pay their bills, so for someone to have that on a sustainable level and keep achieving and growing, that’ s what we’ re about.”
And as for what’ s next for GEM, he said:“ To keep doing what we’ re doing, particularly in the North-East.
“ Our utopia is to work with businesses at every level, from hiring staff on the shop floor to training their next managers through to developing their leaders of 10, 15, 20 years’ time.”
CARVERS Carvers is one of the North-East’ s longestestablished estate agencies, renowned for honesty, local expertise and outstanding customer service.
Operating in Newton Aycliffe for over two decades, the branch is the town’ s market leader with a 32.9 % market share.
In 2025 alone, it completed 162 property sales representing more than £ 26m in transactions. Consistently achieving 97 % of the listing price alongside faster-thanaverage sales, Carvers expertly combines modern marketing with traditional values.
Alongside robust commercial performance and a new office, the business invests heavily in staff development and recently launched the Carvers Community Foundation, demonstrating a commitment to the community.
MASFIX Masfix, a second-generation, family-run business, has proudly supported North- East industry since 1982.
Evolving from M & S Distributors, it is now a trusted multi-branch supplier of fixings, tools, PPE and engineering consumables.
Balancing traditional family values with modern capabilities, Masfix recently invested in a major warehouse extension, a new Newton Aycliffe branch and advanced vendor managed inventory solutions, including Kanban, vending and RFID systems.
The company boasts strong partnerships with leading manufacturers across Aycliffe Business Park, showcasing exceptional service excellence.
Driving sustained financial growth, creating local jobs and investing in staff development, agile yet robust Masfix aims to become the region’ s premier service provider.
PREVIOUS WINNERS 2025: PIONEERING CARE PARTNERSHIP 2024: DIGITAL EDGE 2022: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & TRAINING SERVICES 2018: ELDON FINANCIAL 2016: TRIDENT MANOR 2015: BEAUMONT GROUNDS MAINTENANCE 2014: GREGG LITTLE TESTING CENTRE
20 | Aycliffe Business