PD Ports sponsors Export Champions at Northern Echo awards

PD Ports – the owner and operator of Teesport and the only major net exporting port in England – is sponsoring the Export Champion category.

Joanna MacDonald, the Head of Communications and Culture told us: “PD Ports is a proud champion of Teesside and the wider North East – the BUSINESSiQ Awards provide an excellent platform to highlight the ambition and achievements of the region’s business community. By supporting these awards we can celebrate their successes and strengthen our commitment to driving economic growth in the North East.

“PD Ports understands the vital importance of exports to the North East’s economy. Teesport is the UK’s northern gateway to global trade, providing businesses across the UK with essential access to international markets. By sponsoring this award, we aim to shine a spotlight on the businesses and industries playing their part in achieving Global Britain.”

Find out all about the awards – and nominate your business champions NOW on our new website – BUSINESSiQ Awards 2026

Joanna said the company had continued to invest as it battled economic headwinds.

“2025 was a year of global economic headwinds, all of which inevitably impact UK industry and trade. As a business we are not immune to those headwinds but we continue to invest in infrastructure and people, diversifying our offer to meet changing demand and seizing new opportunities.

“In Teesside, we remain committed to our sustainability agenda with recent investments including a £2m electric crane for the Port of Hartlepool, with another on order for Tees Dock. In 2026 we look forward to the opening of a new state of the art marine depot on the banks of the Tees in Middlesbrough, which will allow us to maintain our own river fleet in-house.

“We continue to invest in people, with the arrival of a number of new apprentices across the business – skills and the development of young local talent are a key priority.

“2026 will undoubtedly hold its challenges, but it is certainly not all doom and gloom – we enter the new year with a positive outlook and a clear focus on supporting our customers and the wider region. ”

To join PD Ports, Amazon, Hays Travel, Tees Valley Combined Authority, The North East Combined Authority, K2 Construction Management, Northern Endurance Partnership and Esh Group as partners and category sponsors on the night, drop a line to mike.hughes@newsquest.co.uk

She said unity and collaboration had always been a key part of the region’s success.

“The North East has a proud heritage and an exceptional business community but it is not always recognised in the way that it should be. By coming together to shout about our successes, our hard work and the opportunities that we can collectively offer, we can celebrate our achievements, make new connections and potentially draw attention from those looking to invest and create.

“The North East remains a vibrant and exciting place to do business – it is full of committed, positive-minded people who put innovation and hard work at the heart of everything they do. The region is also blessed with natural assets – its deep-water rivers, available landbank and quality road and rail connectivity – which, combined with its economic heritage and reputation, makes it a key player for industry on the world stage.”