Community Impact Award winners announced as North Tyneside businesses urged to enter 2026 awards.
Three North Tyneside organisations have been recognised for making a lasting difference to their communities as the first winners of the North Tyneside Business Awards 2026 are announced.
Wallsend based Newcastle Fighters Academy CIC, Bear & Co Consultancy from North Shields and Jasmine Yoga and Wellbeing from Tynemouth have each been honoured for their outstanding contribution to local people and communities through positive change, collaboration and wellbeing.
Now, North Tyneside Business Forum are encouraging more businesses to follow in their footsteps, with entries officially open for the 2026 North Tyneside Business Awards and a chance to become this year’s finalists and winners.
The Community Impact Award recognises organisations that go above and beyond in supporting the borough and its residents, and all businesses were nominated by the public.
Newcastle Fighters Academy CIC has won the Positive Change award, Bear & Co Consultancy has been recognised for Collaboration, while Jasmine Yoga and Wellbeing has won the Wellbeing award.
The winners said the recognition demonstrated the importance of their work within their local community.
Newcastle Fighters Academy CIC provides combat sports, health and fitness programmes for people aged from five to 70, alongside free training and community initiatives designed to make physical activity accessible.
Director and head coach Marianne Barrett Brown said:
“It’s been lovely. It’s been nice to be recognised for the hard work that we do. Connor and I work completely for free and don’t take anything from the CIC, so every penny we receive from our regular memberships goes straight back into the organisation.’
Bear & Co Consultancy was established by Cherri Bray-Mackay and her husband Ross to provide reliable, high-quality trades and construction services to charities and organisations across North Tyneside.
Cherri said:
“We were totally overwhelmed by the nominations and reading what people had written about our work. I was absolutely blown away that people had taken the time to fill out the nomination form.
“It just reinforces that what we’re doing is for good and that we’re going in the right direction supporting local organisations and working with local businesses.”
Jasmine Yoga and Wellbeing has spent the past decade building a thriving community through yoga, breathwork and mindfulness, working with adults, children, pregnant women, older people and neurodiverse communities.
Jo Hare said:
“It’s just wonderful. It’s a real celebration of the community that we’ve nurtured from the first five people who came to our class 10 years ago to this thriving community.
“It’s such an honour to have been nominated and it’s made us feel part of something a bit bigger than ourselves.”
Now in their 29th year, the North Tyneside Business Awards recognise the outstanding achievements, innovation, community spirit and success of businesses across the Borough.
The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 19 November 2026 at Village Hotel Cobalt Park, North Tyneside, and will be hosted by Kym Marsh, musician and award-winning actress best known for playing Michelle Connor in ITV’s Coronation Street.
Businesses of all sizes and from every sector are being encouraged to put themselves forward, with entries closing at midnight on Monday 14 September 2026.
Angela Tuplin, Chair of the North Tyneside Business Forum, said:
“North Tyneside is an excellent place for innovation, entrepreneurship and business excellence.
“The Community Impact Award winners demonstrate just how much local organisations contribute beyond their day-to-day business activities, whether that is through positive change, collaboration or improving wellbeing.
“The Awards are open to all businesses across North Tyneside, and I’d encourage them to put themselves forward and showcase the contribution they are making to our Borough.”
The award categories are:
Digital Award – Celebrating businesses that embrace digital technologies and drive innovation.
Green Award – Recognising businesses taking steps, big or small, to become more sustainable or reduce their environmental impact.
New Business Award – Honouring a business that has made an impactful start since January 2025.
Heart of the Business Award – Giving employers the opportunity to recognise a valued member of staff who has become a true asset to the team.
Retail and Service Provider Award – Celebrating outstanding businesses delivering exceptional customer service.
The North Tyneside Business Forum is run by a management group made up of members from various industry sectors across the borough and provides support through networking, events and signposting for growth and development.
Membership is free and open to any business with a trading address in North Tyneside.
The Business Forum is supported by, but not run by, North Tyneside Council.
Entries close at midnight on Monday 14 September 2026.
For more information:
E: business.forum@northtyneside.gov.uk
W: www.northtynesidebusinessforum.org.uk
T: 0191 643 6000