As the regional finals of the 2018 North East Business Awards get under way, last year’s winner of the prestigious Company of the Year accolade, Omega Plastics, has opened up about what the title has meant for business and what the next winner has to look forward to.
After scooping the top award at the Sunderland and South Tyneside sub-regional final in March 2017, plastic injection moulding and tooling specialist, Omega Plastics, went on to beat fellow finalists Metnor Construction and CPD Bodies at the regional final, securing its place as Company of the Year for the whole North East.
“To be recognised as Company of the Year was a huge compliment to the team at Omega Plastics,” said Dave Crone, group managing director at Omega Plastics.
“We have received fantastic responses throughout the year from customers, suppliers and competitors both nationally and internationally, who recognise that being named Company of the Year is a fantastic achievement and a great way of promoting both the manufacturing industry and the company and its values to potential new business leads or partners.”
Awarded in recognition of the company’s outstanding year of business growth, which included a merge with Washington-based firm, Signal Plastics, a move into larger premises and over a quarter of a million pounds’ worth of investment in new technology in order to keep up with customer demand, receiving the Company of the Year award really was the cherry on top of a fantastic year for the firm.
Since winning the award, the company has continued on its impressive growth trajectory, securing a number of new business wins with blue chip organisations across the automotive, medical and FMCG sectors, as well as launching its own education programme in partnership with a local secondary school.
“Awards programmes like the North East Business Awards provide business owners with a unique opportunity to measure the progress and success of your organisation against other companies operating in the region,” Dave said.
“They are also an opportunity to engage in the local community, promote internal success and encourage the idea that by working together, we can all make a difference to the businesses we are engaged in.”
Omega Plastics will hand over its Company of the Year title to the next worthy recipient at the 2018 North East Business Awards regional final held at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield on 26 April.
When asked what advice he would give to the next winner, Dave said:
“Celebrate your success with the people who have contributed to it and don’t be afraid to promote it.
“There will be lots of temptations to make changes to your business after the event, some of which will be more beneficial than others, but my advice would be to stick to the formula that brought you the success in the first place. Be proud of what you have achieved, not distracted by what you can do next.”
Operating facilities in Blyth, Hartlepool and Washington, Omega Plastics is the North East’s leading plastics manufacturer.
