A GROWING manufacturing firm last night won the inaugural Working for a Future Award from The Northern Echo.

Ebac chairman John Elliott accepted the award at the County Durham Business Show, held at the Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield.

The Northern Echo launched its Working for a Future campaign to highlight the loss of manufacturing jobs in South West Durham and to campaign for support to encourage the expansion of existing business and attract new companies into the area.

Ebac, founded in 1972, is the European market leader for commercial water coolers and a brand leader in domestic and industrial dehumidifiers.

Earlier this year, it announced the recruitment of production staff thanks to increasing sales of its home water cooler. The jobs will increase Ebac's workforce by 15 per cent to 350, bucking the national downturn in manufacturing jobs.

Also shortlisted for the award was Liz Curry, and Les Graham.

Ms Curry, owner of the Horsley Hall Hotel, near Stanhope, has successfully diversified the business to counter the impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis and the closure of the Lafarge cement works.

Earlier this year Les Graham's company bought Weardale Steel, in Wolsingham, when it appeared to be on the verge of extinction.

In rescuing the business he not only preserved a vital component of the Weardale economy dating back 140 years, but he also preserved jobs in the community, with the promise of further jobs being created in the future.