Everflow’s fast track to triumph

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Josh Gill, CEO of the Everflow Group, has been named the Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

Based in Middlesbrough his business has two companies – Everflow Tech and Everflow Water: Everflow Water is an independent water retailer, and Everflow Tech designs and creates software for use in the water retail market.

It’s no surprise he won this award as the business, which was only set up in 2015, was ranked 3rd in the Financial Times’ FT 1000, the paper’s annual list of the fastest growing businesses in Europe. 

Everflow was also recently been named an ‘Outstanding’ company to work for by b.co.uk in the Best Companies to Work For survey and receives similarly glowing praise from staff in a regular employee survey.

The company intends to have an impact on the Teesside community, and describes its goals as making Teesside “synonymous with an innovative tech landscape, a place people want to come to work in the digital sector”.   Creating jobs for the local area is what motivates him to develop and grow his business, rather than, as he puts it, the primary mission being purely to make money.

Josh Gill said: “I’m delighted to win the award recognising, not my individual efforts, but those of the incredible team of people we have at Everflow. A team who recognises that having a laugh is just as important as hard work. I love coming to work every day alongside them”

Jim Fraser, from Durham University, the Entrepreneur of the Year sponsor said: “Josh Gill is the embodiment of sustainable entrepreneurship that focuses not only on the outward expressions of the business but also nurtures the resiliency, support, and learning environment of his own staff and company. His leadership style shows he clearly engages with novel and meaningful ways of both learning and improving the company.”

Everflow’s unique model means that software from Everflow Tech can be tested with Everflow Water.  It is also open-access, allowing other companies to use it, for the benefit of everyone in the water sector. Their clients are primarily small and medium sized businesses across England and Scotland.

Chamber awards shortlist announced

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North East England Chamber of Commerce has announced the shortlists for its annual Business Awards. 

The members on the shortlists are drawn from around the region, in categories for North, South and Central areas, with members of all sizes, going on to compete for top honours at the final on 9 September. There will also be the opportunity for some winners to go on to the British Chamber of Commerce national final in the Autumn as well. 

One of the principal categories of the North East awards is North East Champion for 2021 and the three companies who have been selected to go on to the final are Great North Air Ambulance, Learning Curve Group and Newcastle Building Society. 

The shortlist for entrepreneur of the year is the Everflow Group, Kerckhoffs and Carney Consulting and for the best green business the contenders are WSP, Believe Housing and Battlesteads Hotel. 

Bernicia Housing Association is the associate sponsor for the awards and group CEO John Johnston said: “We are really proud to be the sponsor of the Chamber Awards.  They are a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the tremendous resolve members have demonstrated to overcome the challenges of the past year, to support their staff, clients and local communities.  We are really looking forward to sharing their stories at the Grand Final.” 

Best small businesses on the shortlist are Emax Systems, Equality Solutions and Nirvana Europe with the medium company category shortlist being Endeavour Partnership, South Causey Inn and Robson Laidler Accountants. 

The President’s Club and larger business category has similar success stories on it with Believe Housing, Go North East and Northern Gas & Power competing for the top prize. 

Leading exporters Gestamp, Dunelm Optical and Pearson are the shortlisted businesses in that category and the diversification category shortlist is Tall Tale Mysteries, WL Distillery and Recovery4Life. 

The Chamber is championing diversity and inclusion with its Race, Ethnicity and Discrimination Commission and shortlisted for the Diversity and Inclusion award are WSP, Signpost and Cundall. 

James Ramsbotham, Chamber chief executive said: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate all of the great achievements of many of the businesses in our region with our awards.  Getting through the past year has been such a testament to our members pivoting their services to support the NHS, switching business models to serve their clients virtually and in many other ways as well.  A huge thank you to all our members for playing their part in our whole region getting through the past year and the best of luck to the shortlisted organisations.”