North East founders shortlisted for top awards
The North East Entrepreneurial Awards have shortlisted seven founders whose businesses span technology, manufacturing, retail, leisure, and recycling—each demonstrating how the region’s entrepreneurial spirit extends far beyond its borders.
North East Entrepreneurship Week Unveiled
The 2026 awards, hosted by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, will celebrate two flagship categories in November, marking a centerpiece of the inaugural North East Entrepreneurship Week. The event, running from November 11 to 20 under the banner The Place to Rise, aims to inspire founders and support growth across the region by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and educators through a region-wide programme.
This year’s Entrepreneurial Excellence category recognizes founders with turnovers below £25 million, judging them on resilience, leadership, and regional impact. Four finalists, Imran Anwar, Joanna Feeley, Michael Hall and Andy Gough, and Kate Rose, represent diverse paths to success.
Meet the Entrepreneurial Excellence Finalists
Anwar’s Alt Labs, a digital product agency, expanded from the North East to London and Riyadh while earning recognition as a top workplace. The company, which operates at the intersection of innovation and digital product development, was named among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2026 for its culture-driven approach. Feeley’s TrendBible, a future-trends consultancy, operates in over 35 countries from its regional base, helping global brands anticipate shifts in consumer behaviour and commercial opportunities. Hall and Gough grew eQuality Solutions Group through acquisitions, while Rose built TUTTI, a jewellery brand now stocked by retailers like Fenwick, John Lewis, Macy’s, and Nordstrom, from her parents’ conservatory.
The Entrepreneur of the Year category honors founders surpassing £25 million in revenue. Finalists include Jonny Catto, whose iPac Packaging Innovations scaled from a ten-person operation turning over £500,000 in 2017 to a manufacturer employing around 100 people. Expansion has included a second site at Tanfield, in County Durham, and a 10,000sq ft extension at its Gateshead headquarters, with sustainability central to its development, using recycled PET and focusing on lightweight, recyclable packaging.
Vikki Jackson-Smith led J&B Recycling through crises, including a 2008 fire and pandemic disruptions, before exiting the business. The company had grown into one of the North East’s leading recycling businesses, employing more than 200 people and processing upwards of 200,000 tonnes of waste and recyclable material annually. Tim Wilks turned Lane7, a Newcastle-born leisure concept launched in 2013, into a 24-venue international chain.
Forum CEO Highlights Success Themes
Elaine Stroud, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, noted that success varies, some grow rapidly, others steadily, but all create jobs and opportunities. The awards, she said, celebrate leadership and regional achievement.
The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, which has hosted the awards since 2004, has expanded its role this year to align with the week’s goals. By bringing together founders, educators, and business organizations, the forum aims to break down barriers for new entrepreneurs while providing established businesses with tools to scale. Workshops, networking sessions, and pitch competitions will run alongside the awards, reinforcing the region’s position as a hub for innovation.
Elaine Stroud’s remarks highlight a key theme: success in the region takes many forms. Whether through organic expansion, strategic acquisitions, or international reach, the finalists demonstrate that entrepreneurship is measured not just by revenue or growth rate, but by the opportunities they create for employees, communities, and the broader economy.
