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SECRETARY OF STATE HONOURED AT UTV BUSINESS EYE AWARDS

Lord Ballyedmond, Chairman and CEO, Norbrook Laboratories (2nd left) is presented with the UTV Business Eye Lifetime Achievement Award by Mr Ken Surgenor (l) Chairman of Charles Hurst who sponsored the award. Also pictured is Mrs Brenda Buckley,

Secretary of State Owen Paterson MP was named Business Personality of the Year at last week's UTV Business Eye Awards in association with easyJet, staged at the Culloden Estate & Spa.

The Secretary of State was recognised for his work on keeping the Northern Ireland economy to the forefront at Westminster, for his role in saving the Belfast-New York air link and for his ongoing pressure on the Treasury to devolve corporation tax power to the Stormont Executive.

Newtownards-based Hughes Insurance was revealed as the 2011 Company of the Year for its continued growth and investment. The company officially opened a new 44,000 sq.ft. headquarters earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Lord Ballyedmond, the Chairman and Chief Executive of one of Northern Ireland's leading organisations, Newry-based veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacturers Norbrook Laboratories.

Other key winners on a glittering night of awards and entertainment at the Culloden Hotel were Philip Bain of Carryduff firm Shredbank, who won Young Business Personality of the Year, and fast-growing Belfast company Suki Tea, which was named as the SME (Small & Medium-Sized Enterprise) of the Year.

A total of 430 guests attended the awards gala evening, with top class entertainment provided by The American Four Tops, Welsh tenor Wynne Evans (star of the Go Compare TV commercials) and Irish violinist Patricia Treacy.

Paul Simmons, UK Director of easyJet, said: “We're delighted to be the main sponsor of these awards which have established themselves as the premier accolades for business here in Northern Ireland over the past five years.”

“easyJet is proud to be Northern Ireland’s favourite airline. We offer the people of the region easy and affordable connections to domestic and international destinations out of Belfast International Airport, and we're committed to serving an increasing number of business passengers on these routes.”

Michael Wilson, Managing Director of UTV Television, said

“The business climate here has been very challenging in recent years so awards like these are more important than ever to recognise the companies and individuals who are driving the economy forward. We need to inject more confidence in the local economy, and these awards provide exactly that.”

UTV Business Eye Awards in association with easyJet – Other Category Winners

Employer of the Year -  Kilrea Service Station (Kenny's Group Ltd)

Green Company of the Year -  Greiner Packaging, Dungannon

Tourist & Hospitality Project of the Year -  Ulster Folk & Transport Museum (Titanica)

International Company of the Year -  Norbrook Laboratories

Business/Education Award -  Northern Regional College (for its partnership with Ryobi, Carrickfergus)

Retailer of the Year -  Menarys

Fleet Funder of the Year -  Northern Bank Asset Finance

Research & Development Project of the Year -  Guardian 24

Environmental Project of the Year -  Fivemiletown Creamery

Business Consultancy of the Year -  Clarendon Executive

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