TWO 'neighbouring' firms have won awards in the North West's workplace oscars.

New Waterside Paper Mills of Darwen and RHP Bearings of Blackburn each won North West Quality Awards.

Only eight firms in the region won awards and to have two from the same borough is seen as a major achievement.

New Waterside Paper Mills, which employs 140 and has a turnover of £11 million, has invested heavily in recent years to keep up with the latest recycling techniques.

"Just to reach the finals is a great honour because this is a very tough competition indeed with all our working practices being put under the microscope by independent assessors," said Greg Roche, general manager. "To win a top award is absolutely fantastic, a great triumph for everyone who works here."

RHP Bearings, which manufactures cast iron bearings housings, employs 101 people at its Blackburn site producing the same level of output as the 320 it employed in 1977. Productivity per person more than double since 1993.

As well as winning the quality award the firm has this week hosted a major delegation of international industrialists

"We were very proud to be chosen as an example of best practice," said plant manager Danny McGuire.

The quality awards are sponsored by Excellence North West and staged at the Holiday Inn Crown Plaza Midland in Manchester.

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