TWO local companies have won free trips to explore business opportunities in Dubai.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) joined Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and the Millennium Plaza Hotel Dubai to hold a competition which offered three North East companies return flights between Newcastle and Dubai, five nights’ hotel accommodation, and up to £2,000 towards market research through UKTI’s Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS).

More than 25 entered and the winners were Tomlinson Hall & Co, major pump manufacturer and distributor, from Billingham; Nortech Solutions Group of Wynyard; and Furniture Clinic, manufacturer of leather repair and care products of Newcastle.

Tomlinson Hall & Co was established in 1919 and manufactures the Liquivac pump, which it markets across the UK and already exports to countries including China, Argentina, the USA and Canada.

The pump boasts an innovative liquid ring vacuum design and is used in chemical processing, aquaculture, sea water extraction, land remediation, food and drink processing, and in the utilities sector. Tomlinson Hall was named the 2014 British Pump Manufacturers’ Association Pump Distributor of the Year - a title it also won in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Colin Simpson, business development director, said: "Dubai is a key target market for the company and our Liquivac pump can be utilised within numerous industry sectors in the UAE. We’re looking forward to promoting North East manufacturing overseas and to working with UKTI and Dubai’s DTCM.”

Nortech Solutions Group is an award winning engineering design, project management, procurement and construction management services provider for a range of industry sectors.

The group has grown rapidly since it's launch in 2011. It's three divisions - Nortech Solutions, Nortech Oil & Gas and Nortech Staffing Solutions - have created more than 80 new jobs.

Bryan Bunn, group managing director, said: “ We have experienced phenomenal growth since we set up in April 2011. We are very proud of our achievements and are looking forward to further building on our reputation in the burgeoning Dubai market.”

The winners will be accompanied by a UKTI adviser and attend a reception at the British Embassy in Dubai and a series of meetings arranged by Dubai’s DTCM and UKTI’s commercial team in Dubai.