MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS
Fast-growing games studio raises
£250,000 investment for new launch
Games developer SockMonkey
Studios has secured a £250,000
investment from the Northern
Powerhouse Investment Fund
(NPIF) to fund the launch of its first original
game.
Shortlisted for the Company of the
Year category in the Tees Tech Awards,
SockMonkey was founded in 2013 by
Darren Cuthbert and Bob Makin, who were
later joined by Darren Falcus.
With more than 35 years’ experience in
the industry, Falcus co-founded Optimus
Software – one of the first video game
studios on Teesside – which was later
sold to US publishing giant Acclaim
Entertainment.
The firm has seen rapid growth in recent
years, reporting a 50 per cent increase in
headcount in 2019.
Recent projects include adapting the
popular PC game Deliver Us The Moon for
SHOE FIRM IS A CUT ABOVE
Caring Charles Clinkard has shown local
charities it is a cut above when it comes to
helping out in difficult times.
The national footwear retailer has been
solving problems for several North-East
charities by donating thousands of pounds.
Gifts include a lawnmower and strimmer
for Teesside Hospice, mountains of food for
the King’s Church Food Bank in Darlington,
craft materials for autism charity Daisy
Chain and nightwear for patients at St
Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington.
The firm has more than 30 stores and
was recently named Best Shoe and Boot
shop in the UK by Which? magazine.
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as
developing the Nintendo Switch version of
Prison Architect.
Through the investment from NPIF –
Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed
by Mercia and part of the Northern
Powerhouse Investment Fund, SockMonkey
is set to bring Fish Tanks, its first original
game, to market this summer. It will be
available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One,
Switch, PC and mobile phone platforms.
Currently employing 18 staff, the awardwinning
studio is using the investment to roll
out a phased growth plan, creating a dozen
new jobs by the end of this year and almost
tripling its staff numbers to 50 by 2021 to
support growing demand.
As well as the investment, SockMonkey
will also receive practical support from
Mercia’s games expert Ron Ashtiani, the
former CEO of Sumo Group’s Atomhawk
business, who has been appointed chair.
Charity handed keys
to new home
A charity is celebrating after completing
the purchase of what will become its stateof-the-art
new home.
Thanks to a generous donation from
the Finlay Cooper Fund last year MAIN,
which offers support to people with
disabilities and their families, has bought
a former community nurses station in
Middlesbrough.
It now needs to raise £205,000 to fund
the refurbishment and hopes to be ready
to welcome users to the new, inspirational
space in June 2021.
The centre will feature bespoke rooms
fitted with specialist equipment for
different ability groups.
For more information or to donate visit
iammain.org.uk
FIRMS BRING IMMERSIVE
SOLUTIONS TO
HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Tees firm Animmersion UK has
formed a new collaboration with
Onyx Health that has been borne
out of the coronavirus pandemic
lockdown.
The two North-East companies
are combining their expertise
to support the application of
immersive technology for the
healthcare sector to enable
professionals to continue to
interact without personal contact
or the need for non-essential
travel.
The new alliance follows the
fast-tracking of the development
of Middlesbrough-based
Animmersion’s Virtual Interactive
Events (VIE) service, which will
enable Onyx Health to form
partnerships with healthcare
clients and target audiences to
create custom virtual meeting
spaces, including exhibitions
stands and virtual showrooms.
Senior management review
nets £400k saving for council
A new senior
management
structure has
been unveiled
to ready
Middlesbrough
Council for the challenges that lie
ahead.
The shake-up was unveiled by
chief executive Tony Parkinson,
pictured, and endorsed by
Middlesbrough mayor Andy
Preston.
The restructure sees the removal
of several posts and is aimed at
sharpening the authority’s focus on
its strategic priorities.
The streamlining and realignment
of departments will deliver annual
savings of around £400,000 which
will help the council meet mediumterm
financial challenges and invest
in local services.
TEES
Business.
Plans by mayor Andy Preston
to create a £40m Boho X
digital development will kickstart
ambitious targets to make
Middlesbrough the UK’s digital city.
#TalkingUpTeesside #TalkingUpTeesValley
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