And it was one of the longest established firms in town – the Expanded Metal Company – which walked away with three titles at the Hartlepool Business Awards.

Hundreds of entrepreneurs from companies of all sizes gathered at the Borough Hall last night for the Oscars of the business world in town.

Expanded Metal – established in 1889 – took the titles of best in manufacturing and export, as well as the overall crown of Business of the Year for 2007.

Also shortlisted for the overall title were offshore engineering experts Heerema Hartlepool and animation company Qurios.

Paul Whitton is the architectural specification manager for Expanded Metal, which makes expanded metal meshes. He joined his colleague, Expanded Metal's head of marketing Andy Foster, on stage as Andy accepted the overall title from Hartlepool MP Iain Wright.

Paul said he was "absolutely delighted" with the company's success and told the Mail: "We owe our success to teamwork and we will share the awards with the 130 or so employees at Expanded Metal."

The company, based on the Longhill Industrial Estate is involved in projects all over the world. It supplied mesh for a seven-storey museum in New York and has made a treetop walkway which will open at Kew Gardens later this month.

A £1,000 prize, made up of cash and business-to-business services, went to the winner of each of the individual categories.

Expanded Metal took a prize of £2,000 for winning the overall title.
This year's competition attracted a record 119 entries, up 19 on last year's total.

Awards co-ordinator John Megson told the audience: "The judging panels had great difficulty in choosing the shortlisted companies."

Mr Wright spoke at the event of the "importance" of the awards which reflected the "ambition, aspiration and confidence of Hartlepool businesses".

He said the success of companies throughout the town should be recognised and people should be "making sure Hartlepool's name is shouted across the country and across the world".

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Business of the Year 2007: The Expanded Metal Company.
Retail Award: Coast Kitchens and Bedrooms.
Manufacturing Award: The Expanded Metal Company.
Export Award: The Expanded Metal Company.
Best New Start Award: BC Engineering.
Training Award: Heerema Hartlepool.
Service Award: Partners in Specialist Care.
Community Award: Heerema Hartlepool.
ICT Award: Qurios Entertainment.


• Watch out for full coverage on all the awards in a supplement to appear in the Mail on Wednesday.



Winners at the business awards