TEES TECH AWARDS 2023
TECH FOR GOOD AWARD
SPONSORED BY LEIGHTON
FINALIST
FURBDIT
Paul Suggitt ( right ) of Alt Labs received the Tech for Good award from Leighton ’ s Jamie Buckell .
WINNER
ALT LABS
The firm behind a police and crime app had double reason to celebrate after winning the Tech For Good category .
For not only did Alt Labs clinch the coveted prize for its ground-breaking COPA app , produced for the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner , it came in a week the company learned its creation is producing results .
Alt Labs chief technology officer Paul Suggitt explained : “ We ’ ve just been told this week that they ’ ve had the first successful prosecutions via the app .
“ We ’ re absolutely over the moon – there ’ s a lot of work from our team gone into it .”
“ It ’ s revolutionising the way crime is being reported in Teesside and there ’ s a lot of interest nationally now . We ’ re about to start another series of work by integrating this app into the national police system .”
Paul added : “ Ultimately , it was set out to reduce the one-on-one and 999 calls into Cleveland Police HQ . A lot of those were unnecessary calls , so the app signposts local councils and gives everyone the information they need in the palm of their hand .
“ We ’ re excited to be working on the next phase of the app but we have a lot of other projects going on , so we ’ re just scratching the surface right now . We ’ re going for it big style .”
More than 5,000 people have now downloaded COPA to their smartphones since its launch last September .
Police and crime commissioner Steve Turner said : “ I ’ m so proud of everyone that ’ s been involved with this project and I guarantee this will be the first of many awards COPA and Alt Labs wins .”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
FurbdIT is a not-for-profit business that collects , refurbishes and recycles redundant IT devices for community benefit .
Part of Middlesbrough-based charity the Hope Foundation , it works with businesses and Teesside University to refurbish no-longerneeded IT devices . These devices are then given out to individuals via numerous charity , public and community organisations .
Since FurbdIT started operating , it has processed approximately 1,500 devices , around half of which have been refurbished and repurposed for community benefit .
Examples of impact include working with the NHS to provide phones to help pregnant women access the digital midwives app , as well as providing laptops to students , business start-ups , unemployed individuals and refugees and asylum seekers .
FINALIST
NITE LIGHT
Middlesbrough-based Nite Light helps vulnerable members of the community by providing , free of charge , essentials such as food , drinks , clothing , hygiene products and household items .
A key feature is a digital “ pay forward ” service , where members of the public visit the Nite Light website and select how they want to help . Plastic cards are then distributed to those in need , who use them to claim items in partnered businesses – a simple yet effective cashless aid that sees donors pay forward rather than handing cash out on the streets .
Future plans for Nite Light include a community space with free showers , washing machines and dryers , an eco café and free use of digital technology .
Jamie Buckell , Leighton head of software delivery , said : “ We were proud to sponsor the Tech for Good category and celebrate the incredible Teesbased initiatives using technology to make a positive impact . There were some incredible entries that exemplified the spirit of the award , and we felt the category winner , Alt Labs ’ community relations app , had a genuine impact in the community .”
66 | Tees Business