CONGRATULATIONS to the North-East firms named in this week’s Queen’s Awards honours list.

Awards for international trade have been handed to Ikon Geopressure, in Durham City, and Middlesbroughbased Cordex Instruments, as well as to Integrated Display Systems and Thomas Miller Claims Management, in Tyneside.

Stockton’s Catalytic Technologies, which supplies the food and drinks packaging industry, was named in the innovation category.

A Queen’s Award, which is held for five years, is given to companies and business leaders who are deemed outstanding in their field.

Northumbrian Water has a special reason to celebrate its place on this year’s list as it means that it will receive continuous royal endorsement for a decade.

The utility firm first won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, for sustainable development, in 2008.

Middlesbrough-born Ann Stonehouse, who has inspired women across the region to set up their own firms, was awarded a lifelong Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.

As chairwoman and co-founder of the Assist Womens Network, Ann is the leader of a group that encourages businesswomen across the Tees Valley to trade, communicate and share knowledge.

In addition, Cambridgeshire-based subsea firm JDR Cables, which has a plant in Hartlepool, was also recognised for helping to boost British exports.

On page 27 we feature Inov-8 Limited, which designs and makes specialist shoes and accessories for fell runners and off-road athletes.

The company, of Crook, County Durham, which will collect a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, typifies entrepreneurial spirit.

The business was started by Wayne Edy from a disused coach house in his garden in Stanhope. It is now a £17m concern that trades globally. In 2013, three of its shoes each recorded sales of more than $1m in sales.

It is great to see Wayne’s vision being recognised by the ultimate business accolade.

ANY business people out there want to sponsor a young dancer on her way to international glory?

Emily Atkinson, 15, from Newton Aycliffe, has danced since she was a toddler. She now holds five national titles and her ambition is to compete in open and international competitions, and eventually to dance professionally in ballroom and Latin.

She is looking for a sponsor to help with the cost of travel, lessons dresses etc.

For more information, please call her mother, Gillian, on 07849- 025458.