BEST STRATEGY: Norcare, which provides a range of supported services and housing for the socially and economically excluded in the North-East, has won a national award for its successful Business Strategy.

The Third Sector awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions made by the voluntary sector, recognised the Norcare business strategy as an example of excellence in helping an organisation to achieve its missions and objectives. Norcare was also 33rd in a national Top 100 Best Small Employers list, and was placed fourth in the region.

FINANCIAL SERVICES: Specialist cash flow provider Bibby Financial Services, which is based in Sunderland, was named Best Factor and Invoice Discounter of the Year by the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) for the commercial finance industry at the 2005 Business Finance awards. It was the third time in four years that Bibby won the title.

GOOD FOOD: Carthorpe pub The Fox and Hounds won the Desserts Offering of the Year category at the Publican magazine's Pub Food Awards 2005. Pub manager Helen Taylor's family has run the pub for more than 20 years, building its reputation for desserts. She said: "Being named one of Britain's best pubs for food is a fantastic reward for all our hard work."

THIRD AWARD: Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon, which is based in York, has won a major industry award for a third consecutive year, in recognition of its work in off-site construction and its commitment to design and innovation. The company was named Best Off-site Specialist at the Specialist Contractor Awards. Keith Blanshard, director of Yorkon, was also recognised for his contribution to the industry with the Personality of the Year award.

SAFE PLACE: Wilton International has been named one of the safest workplaces in the world. Having already won the British Safety Council (BSC) Five Star Award for Safety in 2003, and been reaccredited this year, Wilton International has been awarded the BSC's Sword of Honour. Other North-East companies to have won the honour this year include Caterpillar, in Peterlee, County Durham, and McNulty Offshore Construction, in South Shields, South Tyneside.

SURVEY WINNER: Software developer Datawright is celebrating after coming top in a national information technology survey for the second year in succession, despite being one of the smallest companies reviewed.

The annual survey, compiled by the Independent Society of IT Managers, awarded Datawright first place in the planning and building control categories for its work in the public sector providing advanced business software. Datawright, which is based in Washington, Wearside, has been authoring, implementing and supporting software in the public sector for more than 20 years.

IMPROVEMENT AWARDS: Work by East-Coast train operator GNER to improve facilities for passengers at York station has been recognised. The £2.2m programme of improvements to York's station building has been selected for the Accessibility Award by judges at this year's National Railway Heritage Trust Awards. GNER's programme of improvements at the station has delivered a modern travel centre, the refurbishment of two passenger lounges, customer information screens, a revamp of the toilet facilities and extra security cameras, as well as a subway between platforms.

SERVICE AWARD: Employees at two Teesside tyre dealerships are celebrating success in a national scheme rewarding outstanding customer service. For the second year in succession, Town and Country Tyres, in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, has been given a four star rating in Bridgestone UK's Stars awards, open to its network of 160 independent First Stop tyre dealerships. Teesside Tyrepower, in Norton Road, Stockton, also received a four-star rating after a rigorous independent six-month assessment, covering areas such as telephone technique, staff training and marketing. Both dealerships have been awarded £2,500 to carry out further customer-focused improvements.