Two winners of prestigious regional business awards will be sharing their success with entrepreneurs at a showpiece conference later this month.
Middlesbrough-based IT solutions company Onyx Group was named North East Company of the Year 2009 in the finals of the North East Business Awards, which this year attracted 300 entries.
The company will be the toast of the region’s entrepreneurial community at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum's annual business conference, entitled SEVEN, at the Gateshead Hilton Hotel on May 20.
Onyx Group is the headline sponsor of the event and delegates are expected to pass on their congratulations as the company’s directors, including Alastair Waite and Neil Stephenson and colleagues continue their celebrations.
Meanwhile, Darren Williams, co-founder of Sunderland-based Hair X-Tensions Ltd – was also triumphant in the awards.
After winning the Wearside heat of the North East Business Awards in the internet and ICT category, Darren went on to claim the overall regional title.
He is one of a stellar line-up of speakers at SEVEN and will be sharing his business story with delegates.
Carole Beverley, chief executive of the Forum, said: “We are absolutely delighted for both Onyx and Darren, who are fantastic examples of true entrepreneurship, who have shown courage and determination in building outstanding, high growth businesses.
“To have two businesses so closely connected with our conference win these fantastic accolades just shows what a high quality day we are offering the region’s entrepreneurs.”
Carole added: “Alastair and Onyx Group have supported the Forum for many years and, in sponsoring the conference, are making an altruistic contribution towards our hosting the SEVEN conference for the benefit of other entrepreneurs in the region.
“I, like our delegates, cannot wait to hear from both winners as they share the secrets of their success on May 20.”
Onyx Group was established in 2000 when Neil Stephenson and other company directors led a management buy-out from the firm’s American owners.
The business has grown over the last two years from a regional IT company into a national firm. The award is a strong start for a year in which Onyx plans to continue to grow their national and international business, capitalising on their extensive portfolio of data centres and business continuity centres.
The company has spent the first months of 2010 integrating its recent series of acquisitions. It bought five companies in 18 months and now has offices in London and Scotland, as well as the North East, which are expected to help build business and increase its workforce.
Darren’s company operates the www.buyhair.co.uk website, established using his knowledge of the internet and the hair and beauty experience of his fiancée Angela Place.
After 12 successful months and hitting double digit growth, they decided to take the plunge and import products from China.
Plans for the future involve creating another nine on-line shops, acquiring other successful on-line businesses, opening a distribution centre in the United States and starting a same day delivery service for North East hair salons.
They are currently in negotiations with a high profile celebrity to bring out a range of hair extensions to retail through supermarkets and high street giants.
Other speakers at SEVEN include Lord Kirkham, the executive chairman of DFS; Jo Elvin, editor of GLAMOUR magazine; Karen Darby, founder of price comparison service SimplySwitch; and Edwin Booth, of Booths supermarkets.
Bookings are being taken now for the all-day conference – entitled SEVEN – which is being held at the Hilton Hotel.
Delegates can register on-line via www.entrepreneursforum.net1 or via the conference telephone hotline 0870 850 2233.
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