Yorkshire organisations in running for stamp of Excellence

TWO Yorkshire businesses have been selected as finalists in the prestigious North of England Business Excellence Awards 2009.
 
Northern Rail, which is based in York, and the British Library in Wetherby, the UK’s national library, are both finalists. Meanwhile Arla Foods’ Stourton Dairy in Leeds received a certificate of commendation.
 
Entries for this year’s awards were amongst the highest ever, reflecting increased interest from Yorkshire and the determination on the part of businesses to increase their competitiveness in the face of recession, according to organisers North of England Excellence.
           
The winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony at the Queens Hotel, Leeds on September 24, with guest speaker, the Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP.
 
Established in 1994 in the North West, the awards were extended four years ago to also cover Yorkshire and the North East. They judge organisations against the Business Excellence Model, a well-established management tool for assessing business performance.
 
David Teale, chief executive of North of England Excellence, said: “We have been delighted by the number and quality of this year’s entries. Not only have we had increased interest from Yorkshire, but it also seems businesses are meeting the challenge of the recession head on and looking at long-term ways to improve their competitiveness. Those which can raise their game and thrive in these difficult times will emerge at the forefront when the upturn arrives.”
 
North of England Excellence brings together Excellence North West with Excellence Yorkshire and the North East Quality Group to create a single force to encourage organisations in the North to aspire to world-class standards. A not-for-profit organisation, It offers seminars, training and other support and also runs the annual North of England Business Excellence Awards.
 
The full list of finalists includes:

Private sector – 250 employees or more
Liverpool Direct                                                                        Liverpool
Manchester Airport                                                                        Manchester
Northern Rail                                                                                    York
Siemens Transmission and Distribution                                    Manchester and Monkton
Wincanton plc – HJ Heinz NDC (Wigan)                                    Wigan
Wincanton plc – Screwfix DC (Stafford)                                    Stafford

Private sector – fewer than 250 employees
Brand-Rex Ltd                                                                        Leigh
HCSS Education Ltd                                                            Macclesfield

Public sector – fewer than 250 employees
Contact Burnley – Burnley Borough Council                        Burnley
Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School                        Salford           
The Academy – Merseyside Police                                    Liverpool           
The Valley Community School                                                Bolton
 
Public sector – 250 employees or more
The British Library (Operations & Services)                             Wetherby
Cheshire Probation Area                                                            Chester
 
Charity and not-for-profit sector
Gentoo Group                                                                        Sunderland
 
Certificates of commendation
In addition to the finalists, five companies were given certificates of commendation:
Home Insulation Services (NW) Ltd                        Preston
SABIC Maintenance Services Group                        Redcar
Aker Solutions E&C Ltd                                                Stockton-on-Tees
Arla Foods – Stourton Dairy                                    Leeds
Business Link Northwest                                                Preston