2022
Sponsored by Teesside University
BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER : KIMBERLEY
TURNER
( DOUBLE ELEVEN )
Tees Businesswoman of the Year Kimberley Turner says hard work has been the hallmark of her career so far .
Delighted Kimberley , commercial and finance director of acclaimed Middlesbrough-based games developer Double Eleven , put her success down to “ pure grit , hard work and determination .”
She said : “ I feel like I ’ ve always had a full-time job – I ’ ve always done extra studies on top of a full-time job .
“ Whether it was an OU degree or qualifying to be a chartered accountant , it was all done outside of having a fulltime job , so I think from being in my early 20s through to the age of 28 , I was already used to working full-time , then full-time on a night too .
“ But I don ’ t know any other way – that ’ s how I ’ m wired and I ’ m just so happy to put all that work into a company I ’ m part of . It ’ s family – I believe in it and I love everybody inside it as well . This is not for me , it ’ s for the team and the company .”
In April this year , Double Eleven announced it had tripled the size of its team over the past two years , having welcomed its 300th employee while also opening an additional studio in Kuala Lumpur .
As for what ’ s next for Double Eleven , she said : “ A lot of that is unable to be disclosed right now but we will have a lot of announcements in the next six months .”
Top gong – Kimberley Turner , finance director at Double Eleven , receives the Businesswoman of the Year award from Juliet Amos , executive director of human resources at Teesside University .
FINALIST : FINALIST :
Cathi Harrison
( The Verve Group )
A young woman from Darlington who started from scratch , Verve Group CEO Cathi has defied the odds to bring what most would assume to be a big city business to Darlington . A role model , mentor , and a fully qualified and inspirational leader , Cathi is always looking to bring women to the fore in financial services . And the Verve Foundation ( the non-profit arm of her company the Verve Group ) is helping change the face and future of finance .
FINALIST Laura Tarran ( Racz Group )
Bianca Robinson
( CEO Sleepout )
Bianca is the CEO of CEO Sleepout UK – a charity which , through organised “ sleepouts ” by business bosses , has raised around £ 2.9m from more than 3,900 business executives , funded more than 100 charities in 26 cities across the UK and changed countless lives . A proud Kiwi who now lives in Saltburn , she is also the Goodwill Ambassador 2021-22 for the Assist Women ’ s Business Network in Teesside , a role in which she advocates passionately and eloquently for women in business .
From a 16-year-old pizza maker to driving force of a company turning over tens of millions , Laura ’ s story proves hard work and dedication can win the day . Seventeen years after first meeting Racz Group owner Mike Racz , Laura is now chief operating officer , with thousands of staff and numerous companies depending on her counsel , business skills and decision-making . Laura continues to drive Wynyard-based Racz Group forward while remaining down-to earth , a mentor and a supporter of those less fortunate .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Dr Jo Heaton-Marriott , executive director , Teesside University , said : “ As ever , the nominees for this award were diverse and it was a competitive field . Common themes included overcoming adversity , leading with authenticity and being a team player . The Tees Valley clearly has a wealth of leading businesswomen , but it was the hard work , dedication and commitment displayed by Kimberley Turner that made her the standout nominee and worthy winner .”