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CEO Wins University Enterprise Award

Neil Stephenson (pictured), CEO of Onyx Group, was awarded the prestigious Alumni Enterprise Award by the University of Sunderland at a ceremony at the National Glass Centre.

The Award, open to graduates from the University of Sunderland, recognises the achievement and qualities of graduates who exemplify the ideals of entrepreneurship. Candidates are assessed on their achievements in managing a business and must have conducted themselves with the highest integrity and in a way that is an inspiration to others.

South Shields born Neil, who was shortlisted for the Ernst and Young North and Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year award earlier this year, studied for a degree at the University of Sunderland between 1990 and 1993, later joining the Middlesbrough-headquartered Onyx Group in 1996.

He joined the business as sales and marketing director before progressing to CEO and has spearheaded a period of rapid growth through a series of strategic acquisitions, successfully quadrupling the Group’s turnover from £3m to £12m in just two years.

Onyx has recently opened a new workplace recovery centre in the heart of Edinburgh’s telecommunications district, which adds to its network of offices across England, Scotland and Dubai. Its 100 strong workforce provide leading technology services for clients including North East-headquartered Sage UK Ltd.

The Group’s turnover, number of employees, strategic direction and contribution to the local economy were all factors taken into account by a judging panel which included alumni staff at the University, along with the head of enterprise.

Speaking at the Blueprint Business Planning Awards ceremony, Neil said: “I am delighted to have received recognition for my achievements at the Onyx Group and it is a pleasure to return to the University of Sunderland to receive this award. While Onyx continues to expand both nationally and internationally, our roots remain firmly in the North East.

“The University is a great place to study and produces some of the region’s top talent. It is fast emerging as a hub for the IT industry with the establishment of Sunderland Software City and I would strongly recommend its courses to anyone wishing to pursue an entrepreneurial career.”

Within the North East, the Onyx Group has offices in Teesside and Newcastle and owns and operates the region’s largest workplace recovery centre in Gateshead and a state-of-the-art data centre in Newcastle. The new office and three-floor workplace recovery centre in Edinburgh adds to the Group’s existing workplace recovery centre and data centre in Glasgow.