The firm was named Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business of the Year 2008 on a evening at the Stadium of Light which also saw it scoop our new manufacturing award.

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Vice-president for manufacturing Steve Hopper collected the overall award from Alan Clarke, chief executive of joint main sponsor One NorthEast.

"I am delighted on behalf of our workforce who have worked so hard and achieved so much," said Steve.

"The growth of our business in the last two to three years has been absolutely phenomenal."

Calsonic Kansei has defied the prophets of doom predicting the death of manufacturing on Wearside and has used vision, drive and investment to grow the company and to become a world class employer on Wearside.

The judges were in no doubt it was a worthy winner of the overall title.

"This is a company that now employs hundreds of staff and sees itself very much as a Wearside company operating within a global market," they said.

"A company that achieves year-on year-profit increases, despite having to provide year-on-year cost decreases, a company which has invested heavily in its processes and workforce, allowing it to achieve the incredibly high standards necessary to deliver exacting customers requirements."

They were equally fulsome in their praise as the firm carried off the Manufacturing award.

"This is a company that takes the term 'manufacturer' to a whole new dimension," they said.

"Its key clients demand the highest of standards in terms of quality, delivery and cost control.

"Quality procedures are paramount, and training is given the highest of priorities and conducted with regional providers, producing a highly-skilled and motivated workforce resulting in exceptionally low absenteeism and staff turnover rates for this sector."

Collecting the trophy from John O'Grady, Communications Director of sponsor Northern Gas Networks, a delighted Steve said: "It was quite unexpected. I want to say a big thank you to our team and to Sunderlnd City Council for all the help they have given us."

Runner-up in the manufacturing category was Wessington Cryogenics, an international cryogenic vessel manufacturer with an ever-growing reputation for quality and reliability.

Colin West and Gillian Southen collected the certificate on behalf of a firm described by the judges as "a market leader within its chosen field, with orders coming from both national and international blue chip companies across the world".

"We were nervous but excited – we did not expect to win," said Colin.

Calsonic Kansei just pipped industrial support specialist Total Maintenance Solutions (TMS) – "a business so good, it is encouraging others to copy it by becoming the first in the country to apply the franchise model to facilities management and maintenance," said the judges – to the overall prize but there was consolation for boss Paul Moore as he collected the Entrepreneur of the Year trophy from Malcolm Craig, of sponsor Tenon.

"Paul Moore is both founder and chairman of an ambitious and dynamic organisation committed to providing engineering solutions for industry across the UK," said the judges.

"His vision is to provide services that reduce the number of contractors an organisation needs, in order to focus on its core activity."

Paul was delighted to be taking both a trophy and a certificate home.
"It's outstanding," he said. "It is such a big thing not just for me but for the team."

The best businesses understand the importance of taking care of their staff, a fact which is reflected in our Employer of the Year award.
Emma Shearer, of category sponsor EDF Energy, presented the award to Alan Longmuir and Christine Allenson of winner Barclays.

"One organisation stood out head and shoulders above its fellow competitors," said the judges.

"This company has not only offered its staff numerous opportunities for self development and progress but recognises the importance of life/work balance.

"The wellbeing of the staff is always high on the agenda and the winning company has also created a range of highly imaginative staff incentives."

"We are just absolutely delighted the efforts of our people have been recognised by the North East business community," said Alan.

Every business needs workers who are prepared to go that bit further, to think outside the box and put themselves out to make a difference and such stars are honoured by our Employee of the Year award.

Tom Barraclough, of Thompson Building Centres, collected the award from Deborah Piggett, of sponsor gentoo.

"An employee who has become almost literally one of the family, whose dedication to duty extends to pulling on his overalls and getting down and dirty in the workshop," said the judges.

"In difficult economic times, every business would benefit from having someone like this who is determined to look after the pennies as well as the pounds and leads by example every day, whose willingness to go the extra mile and commitment to excellence is truly exemplary."

Tom was overwhelmed by his win and paid tribute to boss Ann Ganley.

"It just shows that the boss appreciates me and she showed it by nominating me."

So high was the standard in this category, that the judges made two runners-up awards, to Lesley Anne Bell, from Barclays, and Rebecca Brown, from Fusion Contact Centres.

"In an industry which is all about customer service, these two nominees stand out as going that bit further to ensure the person on the other end of line gets looked after properly," said the judges.

"Chuffed, really chuffed," was the response from Lesley Anne while Rebecca said: "It is nice to be recognised."

Of course, the businesses who get the most out of their employees are those who put the most in, a fact which is recognised by our Training award.

Stephen McCoy, of sponsor Frank Haslam Milan, presented the award to Ralph Salzer and Brenda Forster, managing director and HR manager of winner Liebherr Sunderland.

"Tough economic times have not stopped this Sunderland company from training more and more people for a better future." said the judges.

"But is not just about quantity, but quality, and this company prides itself on giving its workforce only high-end training in skills that were once the mainstay of the Wear's industry.

"They have produced welders, platers, electricians, mechanical fitters and machinists to rival the best in the industry, churning out award after award and breathing new life into the River Wear while making an exceptional contribution to the local economy."

"It is absolutely amazing," said Ralph, "and it is great for our trainees."

There is always room in business for the off-beat approach, the bright spark who spots a gap in the market and this year's Business Idea of the Year award went to It's Time to Party for their brilliant balloon bouquets.

Sue Harris presented the award on behalf of "If We Can, You Can", an initiative of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, to partners Dominic Cassidy and husband and wife pair Keith and Rachel Stirman.

"This is a local company that deals in smiles," said the judges.

"Their business idea is a fantastic one, from not only a creative point of view, but is also a great marketing tool for advertising a business that is going places."

"We are used to making other people smile, so it is nice to be recognised," said Keith.

In these ever-more competitive times, the latest technology can provide a vital cutting edge and Karen Hindhaugh, of sponsor Go Warm, present the technology award to George Barron and Christine Forsyth of winner Unified Software.

"The winning company has shown a real flair for firstly seeing the market opportunity and then having the skills to actually write and develop the cutting edge software that has allowed it to win major contracts from across the globe," said the judges.

"Customers are seeing an improved solution to an everyday business need and can validate financial information in real time providing cost and time savings.

"The software is plugged into the customer's own system, saving on time and the expense of installing and maintaining a bespoke system."

"We are really proud," said George. "We knew we had a chance but there are a lot of very good IT companies in this area now."

Wearside's heritage of heavy industry may be largely a thing of the past, but the spirit of enterprise is still alive and well on a smaller level.

Paul McEldon, chief executive of sponsor the North East Business and Innovation Centre, presented the Small Business of the Year award to Kevin Rumfitt and Karen Hope of winner Durham Logistics College.

The firm provides bespoke in-company training solutions, classroom and distance learning courses to companies across the manufacturing, logistics and transport industries and our judges were unstinting in their praise:

"While no stranger to growth itself, one of the company's core aims is to help other businesses thrive by providing the tools to develop their own staff," they said.

"Armed with great ideas, it has a hard-working and experienced workforce, inspirational leadership and a commitment to quality and excellence in all that it does, this small business is a leader in its field."

"It is nice for the staff to be recognised," said Kevin, "and it is a pleasure to be involved not just in developing our own business but helping others to develop theirs."

Opus Building Services was runner-up. Installation contractors working for everyone from domestic homes to hospitals and data centres, the business has quadrupled its turnover a matter of months.

"Just two years into forming their company, they have built up an impressive portfolio of high profile North East clients including Sunderland City Council, Tolent Construction and Durham County Council to name but three," said the judges.

Steve Teasdale and Gavin Richardson picked up the certificate.
"We are disappointed to come second – but there's always next year," said Gavin.

The Portfolio Business Awards pride themselves on identifying the stars of the future – and this year's Young Businessperson of the Year winner is set to go supernova.

Grant Hollis named his business the Fat Penguin Company because fat penguins break the ice and that is just what this company does, providing a link between the world of business and the often-impenetrable one of youth culture.

A leading light of the Sunderland Youth Parliament, Grant is well-used to rubbing shoulders with the great and the good.

"Simply amazing," said our judges. "To find such focus in someone so young is quite extraordinary.

"Our winner showed a clarity of purpose and a determination to succeed which would be remarkable in someone twice his age and an entrepreneurial drive as strong as anyone in this room."

"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Grant.

"I am just over the moon to be recognised."

Angela O'Donoghue, Principal of sponsor City of Sunderland College, presented the trophy to Grant and the runner-up certificate to Keil Watson, who has transformed the fortunes of the ailing Altona Salon in Joplings.

"So much of success in business is about taking the chance when it presents itself and when opportunity knocked, this young man seized it with both hands," said the judges.

"Combining university studies with managerial responsibility AND a weekend sales job, he has taken a struggling business and transformed it."

"I am over the moon," said Kiel. "A lot of it is down to my team."
Businesses are increasingly aware of their wider obligations – and our Special Community Award recognises those going beyond the call of duty.

Louise Hunter, Corporate Responsibility Manager with sponsor Northumbrian Water, presented the trophy to Sharon Jacques of Walker Snack Foods.

The Peterlee company plays a strong part in its local community with staff involved in everything from fund-raising sporting activities to working with local schools as business ambassadors and also runs a learning centre which is free to the community.

Our judges said they had been "blown away" by the firm's commitment to the town in which it is based and to the wider area.

"The real clincher, however, was the dedicated classroom and learning resources that are available for staff and the local community.

"It also provides massive support to local schools and community groups in terms of resource and investment.

"The company is also involved in groundbreaking, innovative schemes with the local police force."

Said manager Gordon Bedford: "The site has been there nearly as long as Peterlee and is now into its third and fourth generations – the people on the site are the community."

So high was the standard that Sunderland-based regeneration specialist Frank Haslam Milan was named runner-up. Stephen McCoy was back on stage to collect the certificate.

"This is a company totally committed to the communities in which it works," said our judges.

"Liaison with those involved in local projects is key while staff take the time and make the effort to really understand local issues and people."