TEES TECH AWARDS 2020
Tech Business Leader
SPONSORED BY
Winner
Lee Hutchinson ( Double Eleven )
There could hardly be a more
modest inaugural Tees Tech Business Leader but Lee Hutchinson ’ s laid-back response to the accolade belies the fact that the Middlesbrough business he began ten years ago now employs 120 people .
Double Eleven has become a significant global player in games development and is currently working with Mojang on Minecraft Dungeons , the next video game in the global phenomenon Minecraft , played by more than 90 million people around the world .
“ Double Eleven is the biggest games company Teesside ’ s ever had and it ’ s nice for people to see that Teesside can produce a Minecraft game , that development doesn ’ t have to go to London or wherever ,” said Lee , who has opened the firm ’ s second office in Kuala Lumpur .
And the Teesside University graduate added : “ It was Teesside ’ s innovation in digital industries , games and graphics that got me where I am . It gave me all the boost I needed .
“ Back then , Teesside University was one of only two places in England you could do that before others jumped on the bandwagon . Teesside led the way and I think it ’ s only fair to give back by retaining our HQ here .”
Double Eleven founder Lee Hutchinson gets the Tees Business Leader award from Elaine McLaine-Wood , of category sponsor Punch Robson Solicitors .
Finalist Chloe Clover ( Wander Films ) Chloe builds important relationships within the business community , pitches ideas and consults in order to develop Middlesbrough-based Wander ’ s video marketing strategy .
She coined the # BeatTheScroll hashtag , which has been a highly successful USP for the young firm .
Chloe began vlogging for Wander , getting the brand noticed all over the world and is the mastermind in driving the creativity for the company ’ s future .
She motivates the team and encourages them to keep learning and developing , not just for Wander Films , but also themselves .
She values every idea and discussion and drives a collective where every opinion is valid and heard .
Finalist Tom Howsam ( Paid ) The founder of Paid , a Darlington-based fintech start-up supporting business growth by securing on-time payment for services , Tom is extremely well-respected .
Supported by a loyal team , Tom has rewarded them by removing a formal organisational structure and paying everyone in the company – including himself – the same salary .
He embraces remote working , is a mentor and advisor , delivers talks on the DigitalCity Accelerator Programme and has previously delivered Office Hours ( a business drop-in session ) for Middlesbrough Digital , alongside speaking to new founders at their Tees Tech Startup event .
Tom has also delivered support through DigitalCity ’ s SCALE programme .
Sponsor ’ s message
Elaine McLaine-Wood believes the Tees Tech Awards are the perfect showcase of Tees talent .
Elaine , managing partner of Punch Robson Solicitors , sponsors of the Tech Business Leader category , said : “ The awards are all about supporting businesses in Teesside , championing the talent – particularly the tech sector – and showing what ’ s great about Teesside . “ We ’ ve got this impressive growth going on that you can ’ t fail to be excited about . Who needs the cities when we can achieve all this ourselves ? “ It was so exciting to open the envelope without knowing who had won ,” said Elaine . “ It was lovely to be part of and I think Chloe Clover perfectly summed up the quality of the category finalists when she said , ‘ I ’ m among kings ’.”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 37