The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19 kitchen components and worksurfaces to manufacturers , retailers and installers .
While product development and innovation continues to be the driving force behind the business , PWS also prides itself on being a good corporate citizen , engaging with the local community , which was demonstrated in their partnership with Help for Heroes when the company and its staff raised a recordbreaking £ 314,000 for the charity in 2016 .
PWS managing director John Lennon said : “ We are delighted to be crowned overall Company of the Year .
“ It ’ s a great honour to be recognised for our manufacturing expertise , contribution to the local economy , and our commitment to investment , not forgetting the incredible efforts of our staff who helped to raise £ 314,000 for Phoenix House , the Help For Heroes Recovery Centre at Catterick Garrison .”
Elsewhere during the Make Your Mark event , Hitachi Rail won the Apprenticeships award , which was sponsored by Gestamp Tallent . Hitachi has created hundreds of new jobs in Aycliffe , including more than 50 apprenticeships already .
Arlington Automotive was crowned winners of the Employer of the Year award , which was sponsored by NBSL . Having obtained the Investors in People accreditation , Arlington Automotive also works with Job Centre Plus to provide work experience opportunities for people with barriers to work and assist in developing skills that are transferable to other businesses .
Premo Fabrications won the Engineering & Manufacturing award , which was sponsored by Business Durham . Formed in 2009 with nine employees , Preo now has more than 50 staff and since year one have increased turnover by over 150 %.
Stiller Warehousing & Distribution was handed the Innovation award , which was sponsored by Endeavour Partnership , after
the family-run firm launched an innovative scheme to encourage people to take up a career in HGV driving with its own in-house ‘ earn while you learn ’ scheme .
Primex Plastics won the Export award , which was sponsored by the Department for International Trade . Primex currently exports to 10 EU countries and two others around the world , while its production has more than doubled in the last six years .
Fourth generation family business Beaumont Grounds Maintenance picked up the Small Business of the Year award , which was sponsored by the Xcel Centre . Beaumont ’ s team has grown over the last year and the firm prides itself on family values that remain at the heart of the company .
Trident Manor , which provides risk management consultancy services to a wide range of local , regional , national and international clients , won the Service Business of the Year award , which was sponsored by South Durham Enterprise Agency . Trident has helped businesses save more than £ 100,000 in security costs , while its international activities have covered Kazakhstan , Cyprus , Russia , Croatia and the USA .
UTC South Durham picked up the Newcomer award , which was sponsored by Ebac . The UTC opened in September 2016 with an intake of 160 students from years 10 and 12 and is set to double its current team . Ben Thubron of Baltic Training Services won the Apprentice of the Year award , which was sponsored by Crafter ’ s Companion . Ben joined Baltic in 2015 as an IT support apprentice , and having successfully completed level 3 qualification , has now been accepted onto his level 4 apprenticeship .
Finally , charity DISC won the Heart of the Community award , which was sponsored by Star Radio . DISC is one of the North-East ’ s most successful home grown organisations , having spent more than 30 years committed
John Finley , managing director of steel firm Finley Structures , presented the Company of the Year award to PWS head of manufacturing Jeremy Redshaw , press officer Jill Lundberg and worksurfaces manufacturing manager Michael Catmull .
Charity leader and investor Andy Preston delivered an inspirational speech in front of more than 250 guests during the event at the Xcel Centre .
to reducing deprivation and exclusion , and improving people ’ s wellbeing .
Kerina Clark added : “ We ’ re absolutely delighted with this year ’ s event – it was another spectacular evening of celebration , which not just singled out the individual winners , but also the dozens of companies which were shortlisted .
“ All of the businesses involved this year deserve huge praise for the achievements they ’ ve made , and all we would say is if you didn ’ t win , try again next year !”
See a gallery of images from the Make Your Mark event on pages 18-19 .