NEWS
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen with Resolution Media
and Publishing directors Martin Walker and Dave Allan
at Teesside International Airport, the new venue for the
inaugural Tees Tech Awards.
TECH-OFF!
Airport to host inaugural
Tees digital awards
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has praised the
digital sector’s “innovators and job creators”
after a new date and venue were agreed for the
much-awaited inaugural Tees Tech Awards.
Organisers Resolution Media and Publishing – the team
behind Tees Business – in partnership with co-organisers
DigitalCity and Middlesbrough Digital, have agreed a deal
to host the virtual event with a small number of guests at
Teesside International Airport.
The first Tees Tech Awards were scheduled to take
place at Wynyard Hall in April, but were postponed due
to the Covid-19 outbreak.
It was announced in May that the event would be held
virtually – with plans to beam the awards to thousands of
people online.
And now – with the awards shortlists due to be
announced within days – a new date of Thursday August
20 has been set, with the region’s airport providing the
backdrop for the historic event.
Tees Business co-editor Dave Allan explained: “We’ve
had to wait for government guidance in terms of how
many people we could get in a room, to have key
representatives there on the night.
“We’ve also been discussing with a media partner
the logistics of delivering the event, and just making
sure we’re fully geared up to do so properly and
professionally.
“We’re delighted to be hosting the event at the airport.
It’s an ideal venue for wifi connectivity as well as for
access, but it also makes another positive statement that
our airport is open for business.”
More than 90 entries were received for the 11
categories in the Tees Tech Awards.
And co-organiser Martin Walker said: “We felt it was
important that all the time businesses spent on entering
didn’t go to waste.
“The Tees Tech Awards will be a fantastic celebration
of the Tees
region’s tech
and digital Virtual – the Tees Tech Awards will be beamed
sectors - live on social media to thousands of people.
and all the
ingredients are now in place for a truly memorable and
unique occasion.
“We’d like to thank all our sponsors who have remained
committed to the awards in spite of the current pandemic
– we plan to do them and all the shortlisted candidates
proud on the night.”
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “Here in
Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool we have some
amazing digital firms that are making a huge impact not
just in our region, but across the whole of the UK. That’s
why I’m delighted to be able to welcome the first ever
Tees Tech Awards to Teesside International Airport.
“I’m sure this will be a brilliant event, celebrating our
innovators, job creators and entrepreneurs, and their
businesses.
“Our region is known for steel, heavy industry and
processing, but the tech and digital sectors are also
hugely important to our economy and this new awards
ceremony will give these innovative businesses the
recognition they rightfully deserve.
“As we bounce back from the impact of the
coronavirus, my plan for jobs will create thousands of
high-quality, well-paid jobs for local people and as our
tech and digital firms go from strength to strength, I look
forward to seeing them taking on more local people. ”
Resolution would like to thank main sponsors
DigitalCity and Middlesbrough Digital for their continued
support, along with category sponsors Punch Robson
Solicitors, Cornerstone Business Solutions, Tracerco,
Jacksons Law Firm, Communicate Technology PLC,
Baldwins Group, Davies Tracey, Recognition PR and
Middlesbrough College.
18 | Tees Business