Houghton firm in running for national award

A Houghton business is the bee's knees after winning through to the final of a national competition.
Shaun Allan, Adam Monkouse and Aaron Wright.Shaun Allan, Adam Monkouse and Aaron Wright.
Shaun Allan, Adam Monkouse and Aaron Wright.

Adam Monkhouse, founder of Houghton-based North East Electrical, has beaten off hundreds of UK small businesses to be shortlisted in the eighth national Nectar Business Small Business Awards.

Adam has been nominated in the Tradesperson of the Year category, which is judged by a panel of business experts led by consumer champion and BBC ‘Dragon’ Sarah Willingham.

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If successful, he will win £2,000 cash and 50,000 Nectar points as well as the title, and be invited to next month’s Nectar Business Round Table and awards ceremony, where he will receive tailored expert advice from Sarah Willingham and other judges.

Adam was just 24 when he started the business in 2012. The company specialises in offering bespoke electrical design and installation services to domestic and commercial clients, as well offering renewable alternatives.

“Being shortlisted in the Nectar Business Small Business Awards is a great honour and will give the whole team here such a boost,” said Adam.

“Starting the business at a young age came with its sacrifices, but now the business is going from strength to strength.

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“Being nominated as finalists in 2015 opened so many new doors for us - one of our proudest achievements since has been bringing on our first apprentice.

“Receiving an invite to the Nectar Business round table event and the opportunity to get first hand advice from the likes of Sarah Willingham for my business would be really valuable in taking us to the next level.

“If we win, a large portion of the £2,000 prize money will go towards an additional company van, however I would also make sure the staff are rewarded for their continued team effort.”

Sarah Willingham commented: “When I joined the Nectar Business Small Business Awards last year I was blown away; not just by the number of entries, but by the sheer quality of the businesses that entered.

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“This year has not disappointed; we received even more entrants than last year and the standard of entrants has once again been exceptional.

“North East Electrical has the potential to join the impressive list of previous winners but I know the competition will be fierce.”