RAPID SUCCESS
Tees Business gets 2023 off to a flying start with inaugural VelociTees awards
The Tees region ’ s fastestgrowing businesses were publicly acclaimed in an exciting new awards ceremony .
The inaugural VelociTees awards – organised by Tees Business in partnership with headline sponsor Azets – saw around 140 people attend Wynyard Hall to recognise our area ’ s best business performers , both in terms of turnover and job creation .
Those attending the lunchtime ceremony heard how all those nominated had recorded admirable results , despite testing economic times .
Eight awards were given out – small business , SME and large business prizes in terms of turnover and job creation , plus awards for the overall winner in each category .
And it was a double delight for Middlesbrough-based games developer Double Eleven , which won both the Large Business and Overall awards in the turnover category , having recorded a 355 per cent growth rate to £ 45.1m .
Tees Business director Martin Walker said : “ The inaugural VelociTees were a fantastic celebration of our region ’ s fastestgrowing businesses .
“ They represent an incredible range of businesses , young and old , relative newcomers and long established , an incredible variety of sectors .
“ Our thanks to Azets for their close work with us as partners on this ground-breaking project , but also to all of our category sponsors , who helped make these first awards a reality .”
Azets hailed the diversity of businesses shortlisted , which covered renewables , retail , engineering , manufacturing , biosciences , subsea , logistics , brewing and more .
Andrew Rowe , office managing partner for Azets on Teesside , said : “ The range of businesses that were shortlisted really goes to show the vastly diverse business community on Teesside .
“ We expected to see some of our better-known , superstar digital businesses involved but it is great to see other areas covered too – renewables , retail , engineering , manufacturing , biosciences , subsea , logistics and brewing , to name just a few .
“ We hope that showcasing these brilliant businesses this year will encourage those who may be a bit shy shouting about their success – a typical Teesside trait ! – to get involved in the future .”
Double winners – Double Eleven managing director Lee Hutchinson celebrates the firm ’ s two trophy wins at the inaugural VelociTees awards .
Success – Lee Hutchinson ( far left ) and Kimberley Turner of double winners Double Eleven flank ( from left ) fellow VelociTees winners from Bill Scott ( Wilton Engineering ), Paul Heeran ( Vistech Services ) and Tom Didymus ( Radical Forge ). PIC BY CHRIS BOOTH
THE FULL LIST OF VELOCITEES WINNERS :
Turnover – Small (£ 250,000 to £ 3m ) Sponsored by UKSE Radical Forge , £ 306,150 to £ 1,094,321 – growth of 257 %.
Turnover – SME (£ 3m- £ 10m ) Sponsored by FW Capital Vistech Services , £ 4,894,204 to £ 7,757,531 – growth of 58 %.
Turnover – Large ( over £ 10m ) Sponsored by Savage Silk Double Eleven , £ 9.9m to £ 45.1m – growth of 355 %.
Turnover – Overall Winner Sponsored by Azets Double Eleven .
Job Creation – Small ( 10-50 staff ) Sponsored by Middlesbrough Digital Phoenix 2 Retail , 9 to 33 – growth of 267 %.
Job Creation – SME ( 51-250 staff ) Sponsored by Paul Card Recruitment Wilton Engineering , 58 to 125 – growth of 115 %.
Job Creation – Large ( more than 250 staff ) Sponsored by Recruitrite Vistech Services , 154 to 270 – growth of 75 %.
Job Creation – Overall Winner Sponsored by Education Training Collective ( Etc .) Phoenix 2 Retail .
See pages 35 to 45 for more reaction , detail and pictures from the winners , shortlists and sponsors .
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