Sponsored by the Education Training Collective ( Etc .)
Job Creation
OVERALL WINNER
FINALIST
RADICAL FORGE , Middlesbrough
Phoenix 2 Retail ’ s Perry Barrett ( left ) receives the Overall Job Creation award from the Education Training Collective ’ s head of commercial development , Graeme Wood .
WINNER
PHOENIX 2 RETAIL , Hartlepool
“ We ’ ll keep investing in our people .” That was the promise from a business newcomer after seeing its rapid rise recognised with one of the two overall awards at the inaugural VelociTees . Phoenix 2 Retail is a fast-rising vape marketing and distribution firm that saw staff numbers increase by 267 per cent from nine to 33 in just one year . “ Phoenix2Retail will continue , as we grow as a business , to invest in our people and our industry ,” said brand director Perry Barrett .
“ As a business , part of our mission statement is to empower our staff . Over the coming year , we will again be creating more job roles and opportunities nationally as we look to onboard another 65-plus employees into the business .”
He added : “ Our industry is still in its infancy and provides many challenges . We are committed to offering consumers an opportunity out of combustible cigarettes to a less harmful alternative .”
Phoenix 2 Retail is a pioneering route-to-market and category advisor to the UK ’ s leading fast-moving consumer goods ( FMCG ) customers across vaping and harm-reduction products .
Powered by a team of FMCG retail professionals with a combined experience of more than 75 years , the business , across its three years of trading history , has grown from nothing to a multi-million-pounds turnover , with a mix of direct and consultant , outsourced employees .
Turnover leapt from £ 306,000 to nearly £ 1.1m – that ’ s 257 per cent – in the latest filed accounts of games stars Radical Forge .
Starting out as two people making “ radical stuff ” to do with videogames in 2017 , this sharp , adaptive and daring Middlesbrough company continues to go from strength to strength .
Now an established name within the game development industry , it handles many projects across multiple platforms , including PC , Xbox , PlayStation , iOS , Android and Nintendo Switch . It has also worked tirelessly on its first original IP , Bright Paw .
FINALIST
SAMY , Middlesbrough
A 93 per cent growth in turnover – from £ 10m to £ 19.5m – leaves no room for doubt around the success of Samy .
One of the UK ’ s leading independent retail operators of convenience forecourts and standalone stores , Samy currently operates or manages directly 32 convenience stores or forecourts , with names such as Budgens , Spar , Londis and Premier in its portfolio , and around 180 people in the team .
Based in Middlesbrough but with stores in several parts of the country – and with ambitions to be a fully national operator – it continues an ongoing programme of store acquisition and conversion .
SPONSOR MESSAGE
Etc . chief executive and group principal Grant Glendinning said : “ Encouraging ambition , aspiration and entrepreneurship is a massive part of what we do at the colleges that make up the Education Training Collective . Therefore , we were proud to sponsor the inaugural VelociTees Awards , which are all about celebrating the Tees Valley ’ s fastest growing businesses . Job creation has got to be one of the most spectacular achievements for any business and is certainly something to be celebrated . Well done to Phoenix 2 Retail .”
44 | Tees Business