TEES TECH AWARDS 2022
SPONSORED BY MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE – @ MBROCOLLEGE
RISING STAR
FINALIST
JACK PICKERING ( TAPP – formerly SNAPPS )
Headgear – Sencode Cyber Security ’ s Callum Duncan received his award from Zoe Lewis , principal / chief executive of category sponsor Middlesbrough College .
WINNER
CALLUM DUNCAN
( Sencode Cyber Security )
No one seemed more surprised with his double triumph at the Tees Tech Awards than Sencode Cyber Security ’ s Callum Duncan , whose company promises it will “ help businesses stay ahead of hackers ”.
For not only was the company he helped launch just before the pandemic named Small Business of the Year , Callum himself was named Rising Star .
As co-founder and technical director of Sencode , Callum quickly learned to wear the many hats of the entrepreneurial lean business owner , doing so while completing his third year at Teesside University , where he studied for a BSc ( Hons ) in cybersecurity .
And , appropriately enough , he sported some natty headgear at the awards ceremony !
Sencode Cyber Security was formed by Callum and two fellow Teesside University students .
But modest Callum , who said winning two awards was “ crazy ”, was quick to heap praise on others in the tech business community . He said : “ I ’ m lost for words – just thank you to everyone . “ It ’ s crazy to be in this situation , but my initial reaction is that there ’ s been a lot of hard work leading up to this . We have worked hard .
“ But speaking as a business owner , I don ’ t know how the other people in that room do it . It ’ s amazing to have such a crazy , wide-ranging industry . And I ’ ve only just started out in this , so I ’ m looking forward to seeing what the future holds .”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Zoe Lewis , principal and chief executive of Middlesbrough College , said : “ Middlesbrough College Group was delighted to sponsor this year ’ s Tees Tech Awards and be part of such an inspirational evening for our thriving tech sector . The quality of businesses and individuals this year was tremendous and it was a privilege to be involved . All those shortlisted should be immensely proud , including EnnAppSys , who won Company of the Year and Callum Duncan from Sencode Cyber Security , who won the Rising Star Award . Such an evening makes us proud to be working with so many amazing local companies who are all committed to nurturing local talent .”
Jack possesses all the attributes needed to succeed in business .
As founder of Middlesbrough-based Tapp , a company that helps local takeaways sell more food through their website , fighting back against the big takeaway apps and reclaiming their profits , Jack has single-handedly created a service that ’ s growing every day and genuinely helping local businesses to thrive .
Tapp is frequently described as better than JustEat , UberEats and Deliveroo for user experience , flexibility and ease-of-use . Having built the website from scratch in his bedroom , Tapp has taken well over £ 2m worth of transactions in its first 14 months .
FINALIST
ANDREW BARTLETT ( ROAM LOCAL )
Former jockey Andrew launched Roam Local – a destination guide in the form of a free mobile app , designed to showcase and promote shops , venues and other attractions – in 2019 , with the aim of championing and regenerating local places .
Despite Andrew having no background in technology , Roam Local now has 50,000 ( and growing ) active users and a team of 25 .
In 2020 , Andrew ’ s work to support local towns and cities was recognised when he was accepted as a member of the Institute of Place Management ( IPM ) and Roam Local was voted Tech Product of the Year at Europe ’ s largest hospitality event , the Restaurant and Takeaway Expo , from a 10,000-strong shortlist . An impressive start for a CEO who is still only 25 !
44 | Tees Business