SMALL businesses were treated to an evening of glamour and entertainment at an awards dinner.

The North East Regional Committee of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) held its inaugural awards dinner on Thursday, November 26, at the Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel at 7pm.

Guests, sponsors and FSB members enjoyed a drinks reception and entertainment from acclaimed young magician Luke Howells.

This was followed by a three-course meal with table wine and advice from guest speaker David Kerfoot MBE, who turned a small back bedroom investment into a multi-million pound business over 30 years.

The awards covered the categories of retail, B2B, rural/tourism, manufacturing, export, micro and young entrepreneur.

News reader Claire Montgomery hosted the evening and the event – which was the first of its kind in the North-East - was sponsored by Sage, UKTI, Tees Valley Unlimited, UK Steel Enterprises and FSB Insurance Service.

Lynne Hammond, North East regional secretary of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “I think it was a real success and a way of demonstrating the wide variety of the businesses of members.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. The awards covered the whole of the region from Blyth to Redcar right across to Barnard Castle.”