Partnership with Double Eleven adds up to success for Azets
FEATURE
THE NUMBERS GAME
Trust – Azets ’ tax partner Alastair Wilson with Kimberley Turner from Double Eleven .
Partnership with Double Eleven adds up to success for Azets
Double Eleven , the Middlesbrough-based games developer and winner of the inaugural VelociTees , needs little introduction . From humble beginnings 14 years ago , its growth is nothing short of phenomenal , having recorded a 400 per cent growth rate in sales to £ 50m between 2020 and 2022 .
Bringing some of the biggest and most popular franchises to new platforms and audiences across the globe , and working with partners such as Microsoft and Sony , Double Eleven is one of the top three independent games publishers and developers headquartered in the UK .
Importance of Teesside Being on Teesside is key for the company , with the area ’ s thriving tech ecosystem and close relationship with the university where founder Lee Hutchinson studied paying dividends in the recruitment of emerging talent .
The team now stands at 300 people based at Boho One , with a further 60 based in Malaysia .
Middlesbrough is fast becoming one of the UK ’ s hotbeds for digital tech and innovation and has been recognised by Tech Nation for its advancement .
Creating a great place to work Votes from staff have won Double Eleven several GamesIndustry . biz Best Place to Work awards .
While this recognition is important , the company is ever prouder of the recent support to help their people and team with the cost-of-living increases .
All staff have received two salary increases in the past 12 months to offset these rises , in addition to annual pay rise and bonus scheme .
“ The success of Double Eleven is down to the great team we have working with us , so it ’ s important for us to look after our people ,” says chief financial officer Kimberley Turner .
“ We ’ ve created our own unique culture and our strong bonds as a team keep us working hard and getting bigger and better and developing our own way of doing things .”
Giving back to the community Kimberley added : “ The region has been good to us and now it ’ s our time to give back . We ’ ve got exciting things planned to support the local community .
“ There ’ s going to be a lot of reinvestment and I would expect what we ’ ve got now will double within the next five years .”
Azets business partner Local firm Azets has been on the journey with Double Eleven . As full-service advisor to Double Eleven , the firm , led by partner Alastair Wilson , provides audit , tax , accounts , wealth management and payroll services .
But it ’ s the bespoke specialist services relevant to their industry , such as video games tax relief , that have been most beneficial .
On the relationship with Azets , Kimberley said : “ As we ’ ve grown , they ’ ve grown with us , and taken time to upskill their team .
“ It ’ s really helpful to have professionals you can trust and business friends to help and support you throughout the process . They ’ ve been on the journey with us and Azets have become a natural extension to our team . I could phone them night and day .”
When speaking of Alastair and his team of experts at Azets , she described him as “ a good sounding board who had a calming influence when things get stressful ”.
Azets ’ support for the tech sector “ The work we ’ ve done for Double Eleven demonstrates Azets at its best ,” said Alastair .
“ By bringing in multi-disciplinary specialists with in-depth sector knowledge , we ’ ve been able to support Double Eleven on their astounding growth journey .
“ They ’ re a brilliant , dynamic business and I ’ m looking forward to seeing them go from strength to strength .
“ We work with dynamic companies in the tech sector and Azets ’ sponsorship of the Digital Transformation category at this year ’ s Tees Tech Awards reflects our commitment to shine a light on the Tees region ’ s thriving digital and tech sector . “ They are a perfect way to support the local digital community and a crucial platform to encourage the growth of the tech sector as a whole .
“ As advisors , digital is our sweet spot and we can see how crucial it is , not only to us as a company , but to our clients .”
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