Count down to celebrations
The closing date for this year’s Pride of South Tyneside Awards has now passed and once again, the number of entries received has been impressive. Congratulations go out from the organisers (South Tyneside Council, The Customs House and The Shields Gazette) to everyone who has been nominated and best of luck to you all!
As part of the short-listing process, a young performer(s) of the year (under 21s) talent show will take place on Tuesday 21 April 2009. The event will be held at The Customs House and we are pleased to announce Siemens Transmission and Distribution Limited as the sponsor of this event. The judges will consider all nominations for this category and approximately 16 acts will be invited to perform at the talent show.
Finalists for all categories will be informed of their short-listing by week beginning 27 April 2009. All finalists will then be invited to attend the awards ceremony at The Customs House on Thursday 9 July 2009.
The organisers would also like to take this opportunity to reveal and thank this year’s family of sponsors whose kind contributions have made the awards possible. Read on to find out who they are and what they do.
Main event sponsor
BT South Tyneside
BT South Tyneside strategic partnership is helping to deliver key council services and is contracted to help create a significant number of local jobs.
The combination of new jobs and business developments is expected to contribute over £200 million to South Tyneside’s economy over the next ten years.
Already successfully secured is investment by one of India’s largest technology companies Tech Mahindra. Occupying the Hawthorne building in Jarrow, the company guarantees to bring at least 500 new jobs to the area.
Additionally, BT South Tyneside will provide new training and employment opportunities to local residents, while working closely with local schools, colleges and firms to aid the physical and economic regeneration of South Tyneside.
Category sponsors
- Achieving excellence award: Solar Solve Marine
- Carer of the year: J Barbour & Sons Ltd
- Child of courage (under 16s): M I Dickson Ltd
- Community group of the year: South Tyneside Homes
- Greener South Tyneside: Northumbrian Water
- Judges’ special award: South Tyneside College
- Role model of the year: Variable Message Signs Ltd
- Safer neighbourhoods award: South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service
- Sporting excellence: Port of Tyne
- Young performer(s) of the year (under 21s): Siemens Transmission and Distribution Limited
Achieving excellence award: Solar Solve Marine
Solar Solve Marine manufactures SOLASOLV - the world’s leading brand of anti-glare roller screen for ships’ navigation windows. About 80% of products are exported to ship owners and ship yards all over the world, but mainly to China, Korea, Holland, U.A.E. and Japan.
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Carer of the year: J Barbour & Sons Ltd
With a wardrobe of classic and contemporary garments for sporting pursuits, country and city living, Barbour clothing is truly fit for today's active lifestyle. Sold in 40 countries worldwide, the brand is renowned for quality, durability, fitness for purpose and attention to detail.
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Child of courage (under 16s): M I Dickson Ltd
Established in 1953, this third generation, South Tyneside company remains family owned. Its 230 staff play a vital part in guaranteeing the quality of food products and the service delivered to the company's many retail and wholesale customers, which include supermarkets, schools, hospitals, caterers and sports stadiums across the region.
The company is proud of its local ties and from its 20 retail shops feels very much part of the fabric of the community. Products sold across all shops includes cooked meats, fresh and cooked sausage, freshly baked savoury pastries, bread, sandwiches, regional delicacies such as saveloys, pease and black pudding, ready meals, fresh soups, deli sandwiches, paninis and coffee.
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Community group of the year: South Tyneside Homes
South Tyneside Homes manages over 18,000 rented properties for South Tyneside Council. On a day-to-day basis this involves collecting rents, repairing and maintaining the properties, managing estates and allocating homes to applicants. The organisation is focused on the needs of tenants and leaseholders and aims to put housing at the heart of South Tyneside. The organisation is currently working on improving all housing to a decent homes standard by 2013.
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Greener South Tyneside: Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water supplies water and waste water services to 2.6 million customers in the North East from Berwick down to North Yorkshire and across to the Pennines. The water company is involved in community life throughout the region and protecting the environment is at the heart of all that the company does.
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Judges’ special award: South Tyneside College
South Tyneside College is at the heart of the community and has a strong record of success. Students choose the college for its welcoming atmosphere, commitment to quality and for the opportunities it offers. The college helps individuals to meet their potential and fulfill their aspirations and is very proud of each student’s academic and personal achievements.
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Role model of the year: Variable Message Signs Ltd
Variable Message Signs Ltd is a world leader in driver information systems. The company designs, manufactures and installs messaging signs and traffic management systems that are a familiar feature of road networks in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Greece and the Netherlands.
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Safer neighbourhoods award: South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service
South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service (STCVS) is the umbrella organisation for the local voluntary and community sector. STCVS provides information, advice and support on any aspect of setting up or running a voluntary organisation or community group. The organisation also operates the local Volunteer Centre, which supports people who want to become involved in voluntary work by providing them with advice, information and training. The centre also recruits volunteers for local, regional, national and international organisations.
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Sporting excellence: Port of Tyne
The Port of Tyne comprises five business divisions: Conventional and Bulk cargo, Logistics Services (containers, warehousing and distribution), Car Terminals, Cruise and ferries as well as Estates. Its commitment to the local community is reflected in its active sponsorship and investment in life-enhancing initiatives for young people.
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Young performer(s) of the year (under 21s): Siemens Transmission and Distribution Limited
The company provides the technology to supply electricity from the UK's power stations into homes and businesses. Headquartered in Monkton in South Tyneside as well as Manchester, the company is the UK’s leading supplier of electricity transmission and distribution supply systems, services and consultancy to the UK's electricity industry.
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Sponsors in kind
- ASDA South Shields
- BLISS=Ability
- Capito
- Ford Component Manufacturing Ltd and Ford Aerospace Ltd
- ITV Tyne Tees and Border
- LINk
- Port of Tyne
- Robertson Scaffolding Ltd
- SNAP TO BLACK
- The R&B Group
ASDA South Shields
ASDA South Shields is getting set for a move in May to Coronation Street, which is just five minutes from the existing ASDA store.
The new £16m store will be a little bit bigger but a whole lot better with 24-hour trading, the new offer of home shopping, a new pharmacy and the return of the café. The expansion of the car park will offer almost three times the amount of spaces and the George department will welcome a menswear range to the store.
While the location of the store may be changing, two things will remain the same: ASDA's unbeatable value and the same friendly faces!
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BLISS=Ability
BLISS=Ability is a disability information service providing information on all aspects of disability in the appropriate accessible format. The organisation aims to tackle the difficulties faced by disabled people by empowering and enabling them to make their own informed choices.
For adult carers of adults, there is an advocacy service as well as six free holistic therapy treatments. The organisation also provides self-care courses, a transcription service and is the host for LINk
BLISS=Ability can help change disability to ability, dependence to independence and exclusion to inclusion.
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Capito
Capito is an ICT managed service and solutions provider with over 18 years experience in the UK local government, health, commercial and education sectors. Capito’s portfolio of services, supported by their strategic partner relationships with Microsoft, BT and HP, allow them to deliver specialist consultancy, advantageous hardware solutions, dedicated on-site support and a host of managed service offerings constructed to match business needs.
Capito work closely with their clients to understand requirements and deliver real business value. Their approach includes assessing, designing, building, integrating and supporting solutions and services to address today’s essential business requirements, with technology flexible enough to accommodate tomorrow's needs.
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Ford Component Manufacturing Ltd and Ford Aerospace Ltd
Ford has been an employer in South Tyneside for 99 years. Originally staffed by four people with a single product - the brass corrugated steam joint - this precision engineering firm recently split into two separate companies, which between them now employ around 195 members of staff and has annual sales in excess of £10 million. Both group companies have a policy of employing mainly local residents and supports other local businesses wherever possible. Ford is proud to be a sponsor of the Pride of South Tyneside awards again this year.
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ITV Tyne Tees and Border
ITV Tyne Tees and Border delivers news to a region, which stretches from the North Sea in the East to the Irish Sea in the West and from the Scottish Borders in the North to Selby in North Yorkshire. Philippa Tomson joins Pam Royle and Ian Payne Monday to Friday in her new role of Weather and Environment Presenter. Veteran weatherman Bob Johnson retired at the end of last year. Presenter Helen Pearson is the new face of GMTV bulletins. Sport is provided by Simon O'Rourke with Gerry Foley continuing in his role as Political Correspondent.
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LINk
LINk (Local Involvement Network) is a dynamic independent network of local people and groups, whose responsibility is to discover what people think of and want from social care and health services.
LINk is helping local communities, individuals, the voluntary sector, the council, Primary Care Trust and Foundation Trust NHS to shape, deliver and evaluate social care and health services throughout South Tyneside.
Issues raised by LINk are driven by the views and opinions of groups and individuals in local communities, giving people a real say in what services are provided. LINk will deliver better services for all in South Tyneside.
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Port of Tyne
The Port of Tyne comprises five business divisions: Conventional and Bulk cargo, Logistics Services (containers, warehousing and distribution), Car Terminals, Cruise and ferries as well as Estates. Its commitment to the local community is reflected in its active sponsorship and investment in life-enhancing initiatives for young people.
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Robertson Scaffolding Ltd
Robertson scaffolding Ltd is a local scaffolding and property maintenance company who prides itself on its reputation for safety, quality and reliability. The company works in partnership with South Tyneside Homes to carry out work on the Decent Homes programme and also on the repairs and maintenance contract on residential properties in South Tyneside.
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SNAP TO BLACK
The experienced team at SNAP TO BLACK offers a complete production management and design service for the live event industry.
The company provides a one-stop solution for production and technical management, design, supply and offers a bespoke, creative service to clients in the entertainment and events business.
Their portfolio includes theatrical and rock and roll touring through to corporate road shows, parties and private functions.
SNAP TO BLACK can support all levels of production backed up by a comprehensive inventory of the latest technologies and the skills to make dreams a reality.
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The R&B Group
With over 15 years experience, a satisfied network of clients and a team of highly skilled professionals, The R&B Group is fast becoming the UK's first choice event production company and audio-visual supplier. Offering a full range of in-house services including stage set design and build, video production, graphic design and AV equipment hire, The R&B Group customise comprehensive production packages to suit a variety of budgets and events.
The R&B Group is proud to sponsor the Pride of South Tyneside Awards 2009 and look forward to providing event production support for this year's awards celebration.
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