NORTH-EAST companies have received Royal acclaim for helping maintain the North-East’s exporting prowess.

Oil Consultants, Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) and Elfab have all been presented Queen’s Awards for international trade.

The firms’ successes are a reflection of the clamour for North-East goods, with the region the only one in England to have a positive balance of trade.

A Queen's Award, which companies can display for five years, is given to firms and business leaders by Her Majesty The Queen, who deems them outstanding in their field.

Recruitment agency Oil Consultants, in Washington, Wearside, provides workers for offshore companies, and is celebrating its third award in six years after seeing export earnings grow 80 per cent in the last three years.

Founded in 1999 by oil industry workers, the company now employs 47 staff and has international sales of more than £26m, helping to provide workers and teams to customers in more than 95 countries.

It also has set up operations across Australia, China, Indonesia, Norway, Trinidad, the UAE and the US.

Helen Smith, chief executive, said: “We are absolutely thrilled; this award is a huge credit to our staff.

“To receive it for a third time is an outstanding achievement and one we are extremely proud of.”

AIS, in North Shields, North Tyneside, won its award for growing overseas sales by 120 per cent over the last three years.

The firm’s AIS Technical division makes and exports jackets, which are used to protect pipes from corrosion and fire on offshore structures, while it also operates a £10m training village, providing courses across sea survival, as well as rigging, lifting, rope access and painting and blasting.

Paul Stonebanks, managing director, said: “We are constantly striving for innovative and better ways to solve industrial challenges and work closely with clients to develop solutions.

“This award is testament to our extremely talented and hard-working team.”

Fellow North Shields company Elfab makes pressure relief systems to protect staff and equipment, such as explosion vents, for oil and gas and aerospace projects.

It has been honoured for its sales growth, particularly its expansion across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Deborah Bevan, marketing director, added: “This award is tribute to the hard work and determination of the entire team.

“The company has responded to global economic challenges to ensure we continue to grow through superior products and services.”

Companies’ successes extended into North Yorkshire, with pipe-bending machine maker Unison also recognised in the international trade section.

The firm, in Eastfield, near Scarborough, employs 58 people, and was again rewarded for its overseas sales, which has seen 70 per cent of its turnover come from sales this year to countries including Angola, France, Ghana, Germany and Russia.

The Northern Echo previously reported how Unison worked with US Navy aircraft carrier builder, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), in Virginia, on an all-electric machine capable of bending eight inch piping and large-bore tubing.

Peter Wilkinson, Unison non-executive director, said: “This award fills us with confidence for the future.

“Export volumes have grown by around 100 per cent in both of the last two years.

“We aim to continue that trend, and are investing in operations in North America, which is our foremost export market.”

Mood International Software, in Heslington, near York, which provides management support, and training and consulting firm Primeast Limited, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, were also honoured for their international trade achievements.