Just under 300 guests celebrated the seventh Aycliffe Business Make Your Mark Awards night at Hardwick Hall, as Husqvarna UK was named Company of the Year.
BBC Tees presenter Gary Philipson again hosted the event for organisers Resolution Media and Publishing, on behalf of Aycliffe Business Park, the North-East’s largest business park.
In Hardwick Hall’s packed Coleman Suite, 11 awards were handed out on a memorable night which also marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Swedish-based manufacturer Husqvarna, which has had a lawnmower production site at Aycliffe for more than 30 years, followed Senstronics, 3M, Stiller Warehousing & Distribution, PWS, Finley Structures and Tekmar Energy in taking away the big trophy of the night.
“We’re absolutely thrilled and very proud to win this award,” said Husqvarna’s manufacturing director Caraline Robinson.
“Husqvarna is a brilliant place to work, whatever the challenges we face, and the challenges are many.”
Husqvarna’s Aycliffe site previously produced Flymo Hover mowers for the UK market, but recent years has seen the firm reinvented in terms of product, process and people development.
Husqvarna UK is now the main manufacturing facility for producing more complex robotic lawnmowers, along with associated batteries, spares and accessories, sold worldwide to residential and professional customers.
Several hundred thousand products are manufactured annually at Husqvarna’s Aycliffe site.
Caraline added: “I’d like to thank the team for their great work, their dedication to the business, for being bold in their actions and for caring for one another.
“I believe this is the supportive culture we have at Husqvarna that has resulted in us receiving this award.
“I’d also like to thank the award organisers for giving all the companies here a night to celebrate what we’ve achieved. We’re all winners in our own way, just for being here.”
Carol Gaskarth, of the Pioneering Care Partnership, won the Businessperson of the Year award for 2025, while NC Group’s Brian Corker was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
WINNERS & FINALISTS ROLL CALL
Company of the Year
Sponsored and shortlisted by Senstronics
Winner: Husqvarna UK
Finalists: Contego Environmental Services, BTS Facades & Fabrications
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by Resolution Media and Publishing
Winner: Brian Corker (NC Group)
Finalists: Barry Wedgwood (Primex Plastics), Don Walker (Walker’s Butchers)
Businessperson of the Year
Sponsored and shortlisted by Aycliffe Business Park Community
Winner: Carol Gaskarth (Pioneering Care Partnership)
Finalists: Lee Childs (NC Group), Marcia Atkinson (BTS Facades & Fabrications)
Engineering & Manufacturing
Sponsored and shortlisted by GEM Partnership
Winner: Husqvarna UK
Finalists: Durham Precision Engineering, Senstronics
Environment Award
Sponsored by Ebac
Winner: BTS Facades & Fabrications
Finalists: Newton Press, Husqvarna UK
Service Business of the Year
Sponsored and shortlisted by Moonrise 24hr Recruitment
Winner: Pioneering Care Partnership
Finalists: Murtek, Metrick Consultancy
Innovation Award
Sponsored by Husqvarna UK
Winner: Tidal Services
Finalists: Digital Edge, Contego Environmental Response
Community Champions
Sponsored and shortlisted by The Auckland Project
Winner: Palram
Finalists: Sisters of Support, ALP Active at Greenfield Academy
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by Hiyed, shortlisted by Roman
Winner: Matthew Davis (3M)
Finalists: Kelsea-Jo Watson (South West Durham Training), Ruth Alderson (Contego Environmental Services)
Small Business of the Year
Sponsored and shortlisted by Business Durham
Winner: Murtek
Finalists: C&A Embroidery and Print, Dart Industrial Services
Newcomer of the Year
Sponsored by Husqvarna UK
Winner: Dart Industrial Services
Finalists: Metrick Consultancy, Auckland Innovations