Aycliffe Business Issue 60 | Page 18

Publishers Martin Walker ( left ) and Dave Allan in Resolution Media and Publishing ’ s Middlesbrough offices .
Resolution ’ s current full-time team , which is supported by an army of freelance writers and photographers .
to the company portfolio at the end of 2019 . Just as it was all going so well , Covid-19 struck in March 2020 . The two additional members of staff on the books at the time had to be furloughed , and there was a further setback when Tees Life – a lifestyle magazine – had to be shelved .
However , Dave and Martin quickly regrouped . They made a commitment to continue publishing their magazines , while adapting swiftly to a digital output , and the furloughed staff were able to return within two months .
The acceleration of the company ’ s digital activities included Tees business leaders being invited to take part in weekly online Q & A sessions as a way of staying in touch during the first lockdown .
Then , the inaugural Tees Tech Awards were staged as the area ’ s first major virtual event , with all sponsors remaining loyal .
The commitment to print also didn ’ t waver . Just as lockdown was beginning , Resolution won the contract to publish Middlesbrough Council ’ s quarterly Love Middlesbrough magazine , and the team have revitalised the publication .
“ When and pandemic threw everything up in the air , we not only managed to catch most of it as it came back down , but rearranged the rest to our advantage ,” reflects Dave .
And despite the global economic turmoil , Resolution finds itself in better shape than ever , having continued to invest in products , events and staff .
The latest addition to the portfolio in November 2021 was the inaugural Best New Tees Business Awards at Kirkleatham ’ s Walled Garden Pavilion .
In the meantime , the business has moved across the road to more spacious offices in Middlesbrough ’ s Plenary BV House – formerly the home of the town ’ s ironmasters Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan .
A full-time team of seven is complemented by a growing and highly-experienced team of 20 local freelance writers and photographers , while local designer Sarah Carlton , of Design by Kinship , has provided the creative flair of all publications , including Aycliffe Business
18 | Aycliffe Business