Businesses and individuals are set to shine at a North East awards event that celebrates the positive work being done across the region to promote equality and diversity in the workplace.
The finalists for the 2016 North East Equality Awards have been announced by the event’s organisers, Equality North East. The shortlisted organisations in all nine categories were chosen from a wide range of public, private and third sector organisations for their efforts in promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.
In their thirteenth year, the awards event has become a significant fixture on the North East business calendar, highlighting and celebrating the good equality practice being carried out regionally.
The winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony on Thursday 20th October at Ramside Hall Hotel.
Andrea Johnson, who leads Equality North East, the regional equality organisation behind the awards, said: “Once again we had a record breaking number of applications and the standard is getting higher every year.
“It’s very heartening to receive nine nominations from smaller organisations who are all embedding good equality practices resulting in highly inclusive workplaces and services. Despite the challenging times and uncertainty that Brexit has caused we are still seeing the benefits of good equality practice and business that are going to impressive lengths to embed fairness into their organisations. This can only be good for individuals, employers and the region as a whole.”
This year’s event is sponsored by Gateshead College with awards sponsored by Your Homes Newcastle, Penshaw View Training, Isos Group, Cestria Community Housing Association, Northern TUC, Bernicia, Rubenstein Publishing, Newcastle College and Unison – Bridges to Learning.
Andrea added: “I would like to congratulate all of the finalists who have done particularly well. Competition has never been harder and my commiserations to those who did not get through this year, I do hope you will try again next year.”
Finalists
Organisations of up to 50 Staff
FACT (Fighting All Cancers Together)
Hope North East
Venture Compliance Ltd
AAA Caring Caretaker Ltd
Paul J Watson Solicitor
Organisations of Between 51 and 250 staff
Pioneering Care Partnership
Tyneside Cinema – Dementia Friendly Cinema
Education Organisations up to 50 Staff
Shape Training
CableCom Training Limited
Penshaw View Training
Building Futures East
Education Organisations with Over 50 Staff
New College Durham
Gateshead Council learningSkills
Middlesbrough College
Larger organisations making a difference in the Community
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
North East Ambulance Service
Your Homes Newcastle
Individuals Who Have Made a Difference
Alison Stephenson – AAA Caring Caretaker Ltd
Alison Watson-Shields – Hand In Hand Care
Andrew Dalton – University of Sunderland
Barry Kelly – Venture Compliance
Chris Drinkell – Middlesbrough College
Lucy Fairley – Crossings
Groups Who Have Made a Difference
Proud@NEAS
PC Gatenby, PCSO Handley, PCSO Say and PCSO Calvert
Learning Support Service – Newcastle College
Greenhope Oasis Allotments (NECA)
Student Voice at Middlesbrough College
TUC Improving Lives Award
CWU Tyne & Wear Clerical branch
A-one+ Integrated Highway Services
Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC)
Organisations Supporting Disabled People into Employment
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Enterprise Mentoring
AAA Caring Caretaker Ltd
GATES Employment Service
Please see the Equality North East website for further information www.equality-ne.co.uk