ONE of the region's leading businesswomen has been commended for her work in promoting company growth in the North-East.
Caroline Theobald, managing director of the Bridge Club, was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive a Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion - the highest personal award for services to enterprise.
Ms Theobald started the Bridge Club in 2000, which brings together "early-stage" firms to help them grow into established companies.
This year alone, the Bridge Club is expected to attract more than 7,000 people to events in Tyneside and the Tees Valley.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, presented Ms Theobald with her award before all the winners met the Queen.
Ms Theobald said: "It truly was an extraordinary experience. I didn't realise until I got there what an honour it was, but as I was walking through the gates to the palace, I was welling up."
Ms Theobald's Queen's Award also recognised her efforts to support start-up businesses through her numerous board positions and her role as entrepreneur-in-residence at Newcastle University.
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