The North East Business Awards are back - shining a spotlight on the region’s most outstanding businesses and the exceptional people who power their success.

Recognised as the most prestigious business accolades in the region, the Awards boast a proud legacy of more than 25 years celebrating excellence across the North East. Over the decades, they have championed some of the area’s most dynamic and forward-thinking companies, highlighting the innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and creativity that continue to drive the regional economy forward.

The Awards not only recognise commercial success, but also honour the individuals and teams who go the extra mile for their customers and communities. From pioneering start-ups to established industry leaders, they showcase the organisations making a tangible difference - creating jobs, investing locally and contributing to a vibrant, resilient North East business landscape.

As in previous years, the competition will begin with a series of sub-regional heats, culminating in a spectacular Grand Final where the very best will compete for top honours. Winners from each heat will be revealed to our audience of millions online via Chronicle Live, Teesside Live and Business Live, as well as in the pages of The Journal and The Gazette - ensuring the region’s success stories receive the recognition they truly deserve.

The sub-regions are:

- Northumberland & Tyneside

- Durham, Sunderland & South Tyneside

- Teesside

The winners from the sub-regional heats are invited to attend the glittering Grand Final awards dinner where they go head-to-head to see if they will be taking home the overall North East title.  The night promises to be a wonderful occasion where we will celebrate the cream of the crop of North East businesses.

Date:  Thursday 1st October 2026

Venue:  Grand Marquee, Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield 

Times:  6.30pm through to midnight

Dress code:  Black Tie

Host:  Kirsten O'Brien

John Lloyd CBE

John Lloyd has been behind some of the most successful and well-loved TV and radio (and adverts) of the last three decades. He’s also written or co-authored over 30 books, and is the driving force behind developing a new concept of education based on his BBC panel show, QI.

Studying law at Cambridge, John joined the famed Footlights society, meeting a number of the writers and performers he would later work with. That group included Douglas Adams, whose Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy John would help bring to radio.

After university, John joined BBC radio where he helped create shows that have become national institutions with The News Quiz (which John also briefly hosted), Quote...Unquote, The News Huddlines, and the original incarnation of To The Manor Born. Switching to TV, John’s first major production was the satirical Not the Nine O'Clock News with Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, Rowan Atkinson, and Pamela Stephenson. The show created some of the most fondly remembered sketches of the era including Gerald the Gorilla, the darts players, and a classic interview with Billy Connelly. The show also provided a platform for writers including Richard Curtis, Clive Anderson, David Renwick, and Andy Hamilton.

John then went on to produce Blackadder, working again with Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, and creating arguably one the greatest sit-coms ever. At the same time he worked on Spitting Image alongside a host of comic writers and performers from Harry Enfield to Ian Hislop to Jo Brand. Briefly considered for the role as host of Have I Got News For You (he hosted the pilot episode) John remained behind the camera and created the panel show QI.

QI has gone on to spawn a range of books and other merchandise, but has also evolved into a system of research, learning and study. John is at the forefront of looking at what real knowledge is and how it can be imparted. Reacting against the idea that Google and Wikipedia offer free access to knowledge, John considers what really is interesting, and useful, alongside tales from his varied and often surprising career.