FEATURE
Team game – Resolution has built an enviable team of staff and freelancers .
Covid-19 struck in March 2020 . The two additional members of staff on the books at the time had to be furloughed , and there was a further setback when Tees Life – a lifestyle magazine – had to be shelved .
However , Dave and Martin quickly regrouped . They made a commitment to continue publishing their magazines , while adapting swiftly to a digital output , and the furloughed staff were able to return within two months .
The acceleration of the company ’ s digital activities included Tees business leaders being invited to take part in weekly online Q & A sessions as a way of staying in touch during the first lockdown . Then , the inaugural Tees Tech Awards were staged as the area ’ s first major virtual event , with all sponsors remaining loyal .
The commitment to print also didn ’ t waver . Just as lockdown was beginning , Resolution won the contract to publish Middlesbrough Council ’ s quarterly Love Middlesbrough magazine , and the team have revitalised the publication .
“ When the pandemic threw everything up in the air , we not only managed to catch most of it as it came back down , but rearranged the rest to our advantage ,” reflects Dave .
And despite the global economic turmoil , Resolution finds itself in better shape than ever , having continued to invest in products , events and staff .
The latest addition to the portfolio came in November 2021 with the inaugural Best New Tees Business Awards at Kirkleatham ’ s Walled Garden Pavilion . It went so well that the venue is already booked for a follow-up event next year .
In the meantime , the business has moved across the road to more spacious offices in Middlesbrough ’ s Plenary BV House – formerly the home of the town ’ s ironmasters Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan - where the talented team now comprises : Chris Garbutt , as sales manager ; Julie Burniston , as writer and events manager ; Vicky Thomas , as office manager ; and well-known former Gazette journalist Dave Robson as writer .
“ We dug in , adapted , and we have to be happy with the way the business has grown .”
Nieve Morrison has also been recruited on a year ’ s placement from Teesside University , as Power of Women officer , part of a campaign Resolution supports to raise the aspirations of the region ’ s girls and young women .
Beyond that core team , Resolution has also assembled a collection of freelance writers and photographers with a wealth of experience , while former Gazette managing director Bob Cuffe – brought in as non-executive director three years ago – continues to be a high-profile driving force .
“ My role is to support – and challenge – Martin and Dave on the long-term strategy and how we achieve it ,” says Bob . “ They ’ ve been superb through the pandemic : pivoting the business from print to digital , and firmly establishing themselves as the Voice of Business on Teesside . They ’ re respected by the Teesside business community and are now multi-media publishers with exciting
growth plans .”
Proud of the team they ’ ve built , Dave and Martin have a fundamental belief that quality journalism is at the heart of the business .
“ Print isn ’ t dead ,” says Dave . “ There ’ s still a huge appetite for it , but it has to be built around professional , engaging content that people want to read .”
The evidence is there for all to see . When Tees Business was first published six years ago , it had 36 pages . This latest edition is 156 pages , and a glance over the back cover – a Who ’ s Who of Teesside businesses – shows the depth of the partnerships in place , including Teesside University , PD Ports , Middlesbrough Council , Cleveland Cable Company , AV Dawson and Stockton Borough Council .
So , what does 2022 have in store for Resolution Media and Publishing ? Tees Business will , of course , remain as the core product . Love Middlesbrough will continue to be delivered to 67,000 homes , and talks are planned with other local authorities about their magazines . There will also be a relaunch of the This Is Tees Valley magazine . An annual publication , designed to showcase the area to the rest of the UK , it was launched at Teesside Airport two weeks before the first lockdown .
“ We are also working on really exciting plans for new events , and we ’ re developing an idea for another niche magazine , which we ’ re confident is going to be a huge success ,” says Martin .
Covid-19 has shown , unforgettably , how unpredictable life is . But , in business , it has also demonstrated the importance of teamwork , adaptability … and a strong Resolution . Here ’ s to 2022 .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 61