TEES TECH AWARDS 2020
Company of the year
SPONSORED BY
Winner
Mabo
“
For once in my life I ’ m speechless !” was the reaction from marketing director James Lees as Middlesbroughbased Mabo picked up the Tees Tech Award for Company of The Year . While managing director Lee Mableson visited the Tees Business offices to take the trophy home , it was James who represented Mabo on the evening of the awards and was first to share in the glory of their achievement .
“ The tech sector in the Tees Valley is so strong that it was enough to just be shortlisted alongside two amazing companies , let alone to win the award ,” continues James .
Company of The Year was certainly a tough category , with fellow shortlisted entrants Tascomp and SockMonkey Studios , represented by Ashley Tizard and Bob Makin , both putting forward strong claims .
“ We know Bob and know that SockMonkey Studios has skyrocketed in the last two years ,” says James .
“ Tascomp we weren ’ t so familiar with , but when we read up about them we were blown away by their achievements .”
Impressive partnerships with Google and Microsoft , fantastic retention rates and an impressive stable of clients proved to be an award-winning entry from Mabo .
“ Our competitive edge maybe sealed the deal , but we wouldn ’ t be where we are now without our loyal staff .
“ Lee and I are so proud of them . They all care deeply about Mabo and we fight as a team for everything we achieve .”
Lee Mableson , founder of Mabo , with the Company of the Year award along with David Dixon ( right ) and Dan Watson , from category sponsors DigitalCity and Middlesbrough Digital respectively .
Finalist Tascomp Tascomp has supplied control and monitoring systems from its base in Billingham for 40 years .
The firm makes use of its own supervisory control and date acquisition ( SCADA ) software , the latest version of which is called Prodigy .
Tascomp ’ s technical support is outstanding thanks to a high staff retention rate , with a number of the senior team exceeding 20 years ’ service .
Part of Tascomp ’ s culture is that engineers are committed to providing good working solutions for all customers , which could explain why they have clients dating back to almost when the company first started trading .
Finalist SockMonkey Studios SockMonkey Studios is a game development studio in Middlesbrough ’ s Boho 5 .
The team have worked on or fully developed more than 25 games on PC , console and mobile platforms for clients such as Sega , Disney and Teesside ’ s own Double Eleven .
SockMoney Studios is well on the way to becoming a major player in the UK games industry , with the ultimate goal of creating a studio of 100-plus people and a fantastic custom-built studio here in the Tees Valley .
Sponsor ’ s message
“
We were asked to join the team at Tees Business , alongside DigitalCity , to launch the inaugural Tees Tech Awards – something we were excited to get involved in ,” says Daniel Watson , Middlesbrough Digital manager . “ We felt that the Tees Tech Awards could provide a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on our sector and we ’ re thrilled to have achieved what we originally set out to deliver .” Daniel and DigitalCity investment manager David Dixon were hugely impressed with the entrants in not only the Company of
The Year category , but across the board . “ Through the awards we ’ ve celebrated some incredible individual and business successes , and hopefully inspired the next generation along the way ,” says Daniel . “ Delivering the awards online also turned out to be a blessing , as I genuinely believe that this has engaged a much wider audience .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 41