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The North East Business Awards are now in their 12th year and at their heart are the aims of recognising achievement, encouraging excellence and celebrating success.

The North East Chamber of Commerce is proud to be working with The Journal and Evening Gazette to celebrate the regional business pioneers of the past year.

As champions of regional business, NECC has three key priorities to support the region and our 4,000+ members.

NECC's main purpose is to promote regional business and improve conditions to help businesses prosper, working closely with members to ensure campaigns address the issues directly affecting them.

Secondly, everything NECC does aims to help companies connect with customers and win business; from our calendar of networking events, to Member2Member trading and helping trade with overseas markets.

And finally, it's about developing businesses to become better, whether through legal support and advice, cost efficiencies on essential business services to reduce overheads or helping develop workforce skills through NECC's extensive range of training programmes.

NECC is also the largest independent training provider in the region with its apprenticeship programme being a key part of this.

For further information about:

Casestudy on Our Champion of Champions

FRINGE BENEFITS

Darren WilliamsFROM Saturdays working alongside his painter and decorator dad to spearheading a hugely successful global operation, Darren Williams is one of the region's most innovative young entrepreneurs.

Urged by his father to do "more with your life", after he expressed an interest in joining the family business, Darren has grown his company from humble beginnings to one that had outgrown its first business base within six months of moving in.
Darren's path to launching Hair X-Tensions - a company that buys and supplies hair extension products across world, which he started with partner Michelle Place - is a circuitous one that has its roots in a one-bedroom flat in Derby, takes in the rave music scene and organising and promoting under 18 dance events.

It's also the company that has helped earn him the Innovation through Technology Award at the British Chamber of Commerce honours last year. This followed his success at the North East Business Awards in the Best use of Internet and ICT category. Michelle also claimed a North East Woman of the Year Award last year.

Darren's entrepreneurial spirit shone through when he started the website ultimatebuzz.net while working for IT company EDS in a small flat in Derby.

That led to a chance encounter with an event organiser and before long Darren had helped launch Powerhouse Under 18 Dance Events.

"I remember the first Powerhouse event we arranged," he said. "I stood there on the stage with a huge smile on my face and looked out at a sea of people. I had created this.

"I had finally done something I was so proud of, and best of all, it had happened within a few months with no business training, no funding and no written business plan. Just a normal kid off the street given a chance - an extraordinary opportunity."

It was after meeting Michelle that the two decided to use their shared skills and experience to start Hair X-Tensions.

Since start-up, Hair X-Tensions has experienced month-on-month growth of almost 10%, breaking new ground by importing products from China and quickly establishing the business as the top-listed retailer of its kind on Google.

Hair X-Tensions has been rebranded Harland Corporation and with 11 awards won in just over 12 months, including one national, the company continues to go from strength to strength.

As a member of the North East Chamber of Commerce, Darren has used the many services and support available from the region's largest business membership organisation.

He said: "NECC has helped build my business network in the North East and given me the resources and support needed whilst growing Harland Corp into a worldwide success with over 1 million unique visitors to our ecommerce website every year, employing nine people through a recession and expanded to a 7000 Sq Ft warehouse.

"I am very proud to be a member and belong to an incredible organisation."

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