FUTURE STARS
The Resolution Media and Publishing team have now delivered 16 awards events in the last five years .
Businesses celebrate Resolution ’ s final awards event of 2023
A
trailblazing bank and a lighting and testing firm with an inspiring story at its heart were among the big winners at the Best New Tees Business Awards 2023 .
On a night of celebration at the Kirkleatham Walled Garden Pavilion , Middlesbroughbased GB Bank emerged with the coveted Best New Business title .
The awards event was organised by Resolution Media and Publishing , a company co-owned by Aycliffe Business editor Martin Walker , which has now delivered 16 business awards events in the last five years .
There was double joy for Steve Southern of Southern Asset Management , with his firm winning the Best New Services Business prize and Steve himself clinching the Standout Achievement award .
Ten awards were handed out in a ceremony full of excitement , drama , tension and triumph .
Held in association with headline sponsor Additional Lengths and hosted by radio presenter Gary Philipson , it was a night that saw around 270 people enjoy a three-course meal and a keynote speech from Racz Group founder Mike Racz before the drama of the third Best New Business Awards began to unfold .
Winning two of the night ’ s 10 awards was Stockton-based Southern Asset Management , which specialises in structural NDT testing and asset management of lighting columns , masts , signs and structures .
But behind the business success lies a story of bravery and determination , with
founder Steve Southern openly talking of the mental health struggles and dark times he had to endure before tasting success with his business .
On collecting his brace of awards , Steve admitted : “ This is emotional , very emotional – but it ’ s not just me , it ’ s about family and the team .
“ I ’ ve had mental health issues but I ’ ve come back . It ’ s all about family , talking to people , getting good advice and trying to be as strong as you can – get good people around you .
“ It ’ s about being passionate , honest , loyal and having integrity . Believe in what you do – if you do that , you can get what you want .
“ People before profit is my logo and I stand by it .”
It was a great night , too , for GB Bank , which clinched the blue riband Best New Business title .
The first major bank to be headquartered
All the winners at the 2023 Best New Tees Business Awards .
in Middlesbrough , it aims to be a “ force for good ” in the world of property development – and now it ’ s an award-winner .
Co-founder and CEO , Stephen Lancaster , told Tees Business : “ We ’ re absolutely thrilled – it ’ s taken so much hard work and so many people to get it to this point – the team that ’ s with me tonight and the team behind us in the bank .
“ Why Middlesbrough ? Very simple – it comes back to the North-East being one of those underserved regions where there ’ s such a lack of finance .
“ If you look at what ’ s going on in Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley at the moment , it ’ s an incredible place to be – why wouldn ’ t you want to be here with so many fabulous new energies and industries ? You want to be here so we ’ re absolutely thrilled and delighted to be the first bank based in Middlesbrough .”
6 | Aycliffe Business