2022
BEST NEW BUSINESS
WINNER : NEW WORLD FINANCIAL GROUP
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis means the Best New Business award winner can barely have been more appropriate .
New World Financial Group , based at Level Q in Stockton , aims to make financial advice affordable and available to all demographics .
And according to the firm ’ s financial planning director Lisa Tipton , it ’ s never been more important to make that advice as freely available as possible .
She said : “ With what ’ s happening – rises in inflation , the general cost of living crisis – it ’ s more important than ever to try and help people .
“ But where most financial planning firms are about making the wealthy wealthier , we want to help everyone .”
New World only launched in 2021 but has already built a reputation for redefining financial planning and who can benefit from it .
Lisa had the honour of receiving the award from former Tees Businesswoman of the Year Jane Armitage , chair of the Power of Women campaign .
Lisa added : “ We ’ ve been working with employers , trying to make financial planning an employee benefit and help more people that way .
“ We want to ensure as many people as possible can understand their finances and really improve their financial and emotional wellbeing .”
Saying she was “ delighted – absolutely shocked but really thrilled ” – to win the award , Lisa said : “ It recognised what we ’ re trying to do – we want to help everyone .”
And she praised the event for the message it sends out , saying : “ It ’ s incredibly important to show girls and women what options are out there .”
Presentation – Power of Women chair Jane Armitage ( right ) presents the Best New Business award to New World Financial Group ’ s director of financial planning , Lisa Tipton .
FINALIST : FINALIST :
Key Wellbeing
A female-led , employee support and training organisation based in Middlesbrough , Key Wellbeing helps employers and HR leaders by delivering bespoke wellbeing initiatives and programmes , as well as its flagship service ‘ The Key Wellbeing Hub ’ – an on-demand , e-learning platform to support employees with their mental health . The support provided is inclusive and has a positive impact on women in the workplace by encouraging open and honest conversations . Cofounders Marie Ranson and Melissa Armstrong are also breaking the stigma on women-specific challenges such as menopause and motherhood , showcasing how employers can improve their support to help all employees .
Holly Thomson Copywriting
Trends come and go but people will always be people and , overall , their choices as consumers will continue to be driven by feeling a connection with the business they choose to buy from . By helping small businesses find their authentic personality and voice , with messaging that gets to the heart of why a customer needs their product or service , Stockton and Redcar-based Holly Thomson Copywriting says it will remain a relevant and powerful service in the business community – helping business owners create , redefine or refresh their own unique brand as they grow . Commercially and socially , they say , “ that feels pretty good !”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Power of Women chair Jane Armitage , a former Tees Businesswoman of the Year , presented the Best New Business award . Jane said : “ The Tees Businesswomen Awards have shone a spotlight and given a platform to the businesswomen of the Tees Valley . Now the Power of Women campaign is attempting to focus the positivity from this to raise the aspirations of girls and young women in our region .
“ Paying it forward , we want to show these girls they can follow their dreams . Perhaps we will inspire a future Tees Businesswomen Awards-winner . I hope so .”