NEWS
Tech mates – 2021 Tees Tech Awards winners celebrate on stage .
The winners tech it all
Tees Tech Awards return for a third year
Described as a “ showcase ” for the local digital sector , the Tees Tech Awards are set to return for a third successive year .
The 2022 awards will again be organised by Tees Business in partnership with Middlesbrough Digital and Teesside University ’ s DigitalCity .
The big event will take place on Thursday April 21 – with an entry and nomination deadline of Friday March 11 .
The awards event will return to Hardwick Hall Hotel ’ s Coleman Suite , which hosted the 2021 event – one of the region ’ s first in-person events following lockdown – after the inaugural 2020 awards had been delayed and were eventually held virtually due to Covid restrictions .
The 2021 Tees Tech Awards attracted 114 entries and nominations – a 35 per cent increase on the previous year – but David Dixon of co-event sponsors DigitalCity believes that figure could increase significantly in 2022 .
David said : “ The success of the first two Tees Tech Awards and the quality of the businesses that applied leaves me both amazed and excited for the future .
“ I am honoured to meet many businesses who are hidden from public view but , trust me , there are some amazing journeys and stories which will leave you thinking , ‘ Wow !’ and feeling immense pride .
Trophies – there is a choice of 11 different categories for the 2022 awards .
“ Roll on , 2022 . If you have never applied , please do so . If you have previously applied , please do so again ! Our eco-system deserves recognition and celebration , but it needs everyone ’ s buy-in .”
Meanwhile , Daniel Watson of Middlesbrough Digital – part of Middlesbrough Council – said : “ We ’ re delighted to again be supporting the Tees Tech Awards as we head into the third successive year .
“ The Tees Tech Awards has celebrated some incredible success stories over the last two years – shining a spotlight on the fantastic digital tech cluster we have here in Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley .
“ We look forward to continuing on this journey with the teams at Tees Business and DigitalCity , and absolutely cannot wait to see what lies ahead this year .”
Previous winners include Middlesbroughbased Salesfire , which completed a “ double double ” in 2021 , lifting the Company of the Year accolade along with the Best Digital Project / Campaign , having won the Innovation and Best Newcomer awards in 2020 .
They succeeded Mabo as Company of the Year , while the accolade of Tees Tech Ambassador has gone to Dominic Lusardi and Double Eleven ’ s Mark South . Bob Makin of SockMonkey Studios succeeded Mark ’ s Double Eleven colleague Lee Hutchinson as Tech Business Leader .
Other winners have included Intasite , Everflow Tech , In Studio , Kraken IM , Calm Digital , Wander Films and Appamondo .
Tees Business director Dave Allan said : “ It ’ s fantastic news that Middlesbrough Digital and DigitalCity will work with us as partners for a third successive year of the Tees Tech Awards .
“ The awards have quickly become established as not only a celebration of some of the incredible achievements and successes enjoyed by digital businesses across the region , but further raise the profile of a much-heralded but often misunderstood sector .”
Punch Robson Solicitors has already agreed to sponsor the 2022 Business Leader of the Year category , having also backed the awards in 2020 and 2021 .
See opposite page for a full list of sponsorship opportunities , together with categories to enter or nominate someone .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 19