Two North East-based heating and plumbing entrepreneurs are in the running for the Institute of Directors (IoD) awards.

John Savage, Managing Director and founder of trade supplies merchant Flame Heating Spares, and Phil Pallister, Managing Director of 0800 Repair Gas, have been shortlisted in two categories at the 2017 IoD Yorkshire and North East Director of the Year Awards.

John, who is the current IoD North East Young Director of the Year, is a finalist in the Director of the Year Award (SME Company) category, while Phil is up for the Young Director of the Year Award.

Flame, which is based in Gateshead and was founded in 2011, currently operates seven trade counters across the region, with plans in place to expand into Scotland and extend its branch network.

Phil established the Houghton-le-Spring company, 0800 Repair Gas, in 2010 and the home services business specialises in heating, plumbing and insulation. It forms part of Pacifica Group and employs in excess of 60 staff.

0800 Repair Gas has been a longstanding customer of Flame’s as it supplies parts for 0800 Repair Gas’ heating engineers. The two companies also collaborated during the development stage of the Flame Heating Spares App, which identifies required parts for any boiler, with the ability to order the part direct from each of Flame’s outlets, as 0800’s engineers tested it while carrying out routine jobs.

Both entrepreneurs started out as apprentices in the industry, working their way up to management level before starting out in business. The awards ceremony will take place at the Principal York Hotel on July 5.