FEATURE
Lofty ambitions
Newly-crowned Tees Businesswoman of the Year Kimberley Turner talks to Peter Barron about how she played – and won big – with games developer and publisher Double Eleven
B y her own admission , Kimberley Turner likes to win – no matter what she ’ s doing .
Growing up in a fiercely competitive family , alongside older brother , Lee , many was the time the Monopoly board went flying .
“ I never liked losing , but I think I took my defeats with grace ,” she says before adding with a mischievous smile : “ I ’ m not sure the same could be said about Lee !”
Decades on , Kimberley and Lee are both winners , thanks to the spectacular rise of Middlesbroughbased games developer Double Eleven .
That said , Kimberley will no doubt take plenty of satisfaction from the fact that it ’ s her on the cover of this latest edition of Tees Business magazine .
She ’ s earned the cover story honour through her triumph at the fifth annual Tees Businesswomen Awards , where she was named Tees Businesswomen of the Year in recognition of her “ inspirational ” impact with Double Eleven , which is based at the Boho One building , overlooking Middlesbrough railway station .
And it really is the most remarkable success story – from humble beginnings to a business with a turnover of just over £ 50m for this financial year .
Lee ( Hutchinson ) is founder and chief executive , while Kimberley is commercial and finance director – and they make a winning team , alongside chief operating officer Mark South , who she loves “ like a brother ”.
“ We sometimes have to pinch ourselves at how far we ’ ve come , but we ’ re proud to be putting Middlesbrough on the global map ,” she says .
PICTURES BY GRAEME ROWATT
They grew up in Belmont , Durham , and their parents , Wayne and Lynn , still live in the same house . Wayne served for 30 years as a prison officer at high-security Frankland , and Lynn worked as a receptionist and then practice manager at the local doctors ’ surgery .
“ Everything Lee and I did growing up was a competition and video gaming was a big part of our childhood . I don ’ t think he ’ s ever forgiven me for completing a game called Pilotwings before he did ,” she laughs .
At Belmont Comprehensive School , Kimberley excelled at netball , hockey and athletics , representing Durham at cross-country , and becoming one of the county ’ s top hurdlers .
However , it was the world of business that appealed as a career , although she was unclear which path to take .
During a session with a careers advisor at school , various job roles were filed in alphabetical order in a box , so “ accountant ” happened to be the first to catch her eye and stick in her mind .
“ I told the careers advisor I wanted to wear a suit and carry a briefcase – I wanted independence , with my own money and a car ,” she recalls .
It was a critical time in her life . She obtained a GNVQ distinction in advanced business studies at college and , while her friends went to university , she took a call-centre job with Orange , in Peterlee .
She had her car , holidays , fun and independence but , after five years , she wanted more . The turning point came when a man was abusive to her on the phone , calling her a ******* monkey , and she knew it was time to chart a new course .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 23