TEES TECH AWARDS 2021
Tees Tech Awards 2021 Winners & Finalists Roll Call
TECH
Salesfire were the big victors in the second Tees Tech Awards – described as a “ triumph for the local digital sector ”.
The Tees Tech Awards 2021 took place at Hardwick Hall Hotel on August 10 , with 250 sponsors , finalists and guests in attendance and many more watching from home or the office live on YouTube .
Organised by Tees Business , the awards were held in association with DigitalCity and Middlesbrough Digital , while keynote speaker was corporate lawyer and Teesside University alumni Deborah McGargle .
Tees Business director Dave Allan said the event – which followed the inaugural awards , held virtually , last year – had hit the mark as “ a deserving celebration of the brilliant , innovative and ambitious people and companies that were driving the region ’ s thriving tech and digital sector ”.
Salesfire UK was the evening ’ s big winner , with its two tables of staff and guests celebrating wildly as they pipped Animmersion and Circle Cloud to Company of the Year .
Having also won the award for the new category of Best Digital Project / Campaign , it was the second successive year Salesfire – specialists in helping online retailers convert more visitors into customers – had done the double , having won the Best Newcomer and Innovation awards in 2020 . In fact , it was the doubledouble , as they also won two awards at the inaugural Tees Tech Awards .
After receiving his second award , delighted Salesfire CEO Rich
Winners – Salesfire won two awards for the second year running , including Company of the Year for 2021 .
TRIUMPH
Salesfire lead the way in 2021 Tech Awards
Organisers – the Resolution team ( left to right ) Dave Allan , Julie Burniston , ( host ) John Foster , Chris Garbutt , Vicky Thomas and Martin Walker .
Himsworth said : “ It means the world to win this award in such a strong category .
“ We ’ ve built on last year and we are proud but we are humble . We just keep our heads down and get on with our jobs . We will enjoy the celebrations tonight but we ’ ll be back to work tomorrow . In terms of our future goals , we are looking to expand in the US and Australia .”
Meanwhile , Bob Makin , CEO of Middlesbrough games developer SockMonkey Studios , was named Business Leader of the Year – an accolade he took ahead of finalists Tom Howsam of Paid and Richard Bendelow of AeroCommerce .
It was double delight for SockMonkey Studios , as Darren Falcus , their director of business development , was named the first Tees Tech Unsung Hero .
He couldn ’ t be there to receive his award , but Lee ’ s Double Eleven colleague Mark South took another big individual accolade , named the Tees Tech Ambassador in succession to Dominic Lusardi .
Our special 14-page supplement rounds up all the stories , winners and finalists for what was an amazing night for the Tees region .
Company of the Year ( sponsored by DigitalCity and Middlesbrough Digital )
Winner : Salesfire UK Finalists : Animmersion , Circle Cloud
Business Leader of the Year ( Punch Robson Solicitors )
Winner : Bob Makin ( SockMonkey Studios )
Finalists : Richard Bendelow ( AeroCommerce ), Tom Howsam ( Paid )
Tees Tech Ambassador ( Cornerstone Business Solutions )
Winner : Mark South ( Double Eleven )
Finalists : Dean Benson ( Visualsoft ), David Dixon ( DigitalCity )
Best Digital Project / Campaign ( sponsored by Teesside University )
Winner : Salesfire UK Finalists : Appamondo , In Studio Unsung Hero ( Tees Valley Business Hub )
Winner : Darren Falcus ( SockMonkey Studios )
Finalists : Zulfiqur Ali ( Teesside University ), Steve Dougan ( Teesside University )
Tech for Good ( Racz Group ) Winner : In Studio
Finalists : The High Tide Foundation , The Hope Foundation
Small Business of the Year ( sponsored by Jacksons Law Firm )
Winner : Intasite Finalists : Circle Cloud , Life Ninja Education
Innovation Award ( sponsored by Erimus Insurance Brokers )
Winner : Everflow Tech Finalists : Animmersion , Salesfire UK
Best Newcomer ( sponsored by Python Properties )
Winner : Unforgettable Experiences Finalists : Evolution XR , Dash Media
Digital Transformation ( sponsored by Azets )
Winner : Sapere Software
Finalists : My Marketing Button , Jacksons Law Firm
Rising Star ( sponsored by Middlesbrough College )
Winner : Tim Ward ( OPPORTUNI )
Finalists : Mia Simpson ( OES Oilfield Services ), Chris Goodyear ( Many Cats Studios )
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