Winner: TBOX TECH
Aycliffe Business Make Your Mark Awards
ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING
Sponsored by
THE FINALISTS
Tbox Tech’ s Jayden Elwell received the Engineering and Manufacturing trophy from Chris Boughen of category sponsor GEM Partnership.
Winner: TBOX TECH
A
family affair that’ s“ punching above its weight” enjoyed a satisfying double at the Make Your Mark Awards.
For not only did TboxTech clinch the Small Business title, it also won the Engineering and Manufacturing prize.
And for the youngest member of the threestrong family team, it was a moment to savour – and to recognise his dad’ s brilliance!
The firm, which specialises in RFIDenabled inventory and vending systems, designs all its systems in-house and uses a supply chain within 50 miles of Aycliffe.
Jon Elwell is the founder, with wife Tracey looking after the books and son Jayden the business development manager.
And after picking up the Engineering and Manufacturing trophy from Chris Boughen of category sponsor GEM Partnership, Jayden – who turned 22 five days after the Hardwick Hall event – admitted:“ This means a lot for us as a business and a family”.
At an event organised by Resolution Media and Publishing on behalf of ABP in association with Husqvarna UK, Jayden told the 250-strong audience:“ We’ ve worked really hard over the last year and we believe in what we do, so to get recognition from such a great park, and to be shortlisted with such great companies, means a lot.
“ There’ s such a variety of companies on the park and such quality as well. We’ ve had the privilege of going inside quite a few and it’ s pure quality from a little town called Newton Aycliffe.”
To win the award, Tbox Tech edged out fellow finalists, Husqvarna UK and Modern Facade Solutions. And speaking afterwards, Jayden said lots of hard work had gone into their success.
He said:“ I’ ve seen a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and a lot of 2am nights – but there aren’ t many Jon Elwells out there and it’ s a privilege to learn from the best in the industry.
“ The last two years have been crazy. It’ s been high pressure every day and sometimes, you kind of get lost – it’ s like‘ wow, can I do this anymore?’ But when you get recognition like this from outside your own circle, it means so much.”
Admitting it hasn’ t always been plain sailing, Jayden said:“ It’ s very unique because we know each other so well and obviously difficulties can come with that – a few monitors almost thrown at each other and a few skirmishes here and there! But we all believe in what we’ re doing and when you do that, it’ s so rewarding.”
HUSQVARNA UK Husqvarna UK’ s Newton Aycliffe site is a globally recognised, highly automated hub for advanced robotics manufacturing.
With around 65 % of robotic mower production now automatable, the facility exemplifies world-class engineering excellence, cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement.
Husqvarna is also committed to people-focused development, investing heavily in its workforce through expanded apprenticeships, secondments and structured career frameworks to nurture future leaders.
Championing equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability, Husqvarna UK is a resilient, future-ready business consistently setting new and impressive standards.
MODERN FAÇADE SOLUTIONS Founded in 2024, Modern Façade Solutions( MFS) is a forward-thinking manufacturing business, delivering bespoke metal façade, rainscreen and cladding systems.
Combining decades of engineering expertise with modern manufacturing capabilities, MFS provides design-led solutions for UK-wide commercial construction projects from Newton Aycliffe.
In its impressive first year, the company has built a strong reputation for technical excellence, securing repeat business and a robust forward order book.
By continuously investing in advanced machinery, efficient processes and skilled local employment, MFS demonstrates outstanding engineering and manufacturing excellence, representing a strong, innovative future for the Aycliffe Business Park community.
PREVIOUS WINNERS 2025: HUSQVARNA UK 2024: VIPER RF 2022: BTS FACADES & FABRICATIONS 2018: ROMAN 2016: PREMO FABRICATIONS 2015: FORMULA PLASTICS 2014: EBAC
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