Tees Business Issue 37 | Page 147

Sponsored by Azets

Turnover VelociTees

OVERALL
FINALIST
MANDALE CONSTRUCTION ( Urlay Nook )
Its accounts covered an 18-month period , but it achieved a pro rata growth of a fantastic 449 % to more than £ 16.5m to give Mandale Construction the runner-up spot , with growth powered across the north and into Scotland .
Big winner – Andrew Rowe , a partner with VelociTees ’ headline sponsor Azets , presented Phoenix 2 Retail CEO Chris Kelly with the trophy to mark its overall turnover success .
WINNER
PHOENIX 2 RETAIL
A thriving vape marketing firm celebrating a double awards success feels it ’ s playing its part in “ the world ’ s biggest public health opportunity ”.
Hartlepool-based Phoenix 2 Retail continues to increase its turnover rapidly – despite the challenges of an industry facing tougher regulations .
The firm emerged as one of the biggest winners from VelociTees – the annual awards scheme for the Tees region ’ s best businesses in terms of job creation and turnover , held in association with Azets .
Phoenix 2 Retail won not only the Turnover – Large Business category , but the VelociTees for the best overall turnover performance , having rocketed from £ 4.8m to more than £ 90m in a year – an increase of more than 1,900 per cent .
Last year , the firm also bagged two awards at the inaugural VelociTees , winning the Job Creation – Large Business and the overall Job Creation titles . But speaking at this year ’ s event , Phoenix 2 Retail founder and CEO Chris Kelly revealed the good news continues , with the very latest figures revealing another bumper annual rise – from £ 90m to £ 160m .
A delighted Chris said : “ It ’ s challenging , working in the vaping industry – we ’ re going through more regulation changes so it ’ s all about making sure we ’ re on the front foot and doing the right things .”
Those right things , Chris explained , included launching the industry ’ s first recycling scheme for vaping products and developing the industry ’ s first preand post-market testing programme , to ensure the products the firm sells are of the highest standard .
Reflecting on his firm ’ s double VelociTees success – which came just two years after it made its debut at the Best New Tees Business Awards – Chris smiled : “ Sometimes it ’ s not until you step out and do things like this that you give yourselves the chance to think , ‘ It ’ s a pretty incredible story ’.”
SPONSOR MESSAGE
Andrew Rowe , a partner at VelociTees ’ headline sponsor Azets , said : “ Azets were once again delighted to be headline sponsors of the VelociTees awards . As we hoped , the awards were even bigger and better this year .
“ The breadth of businesses shortlisted was fantastic to see . Not only some of Teesside ’ s well-known powerhouses , who continue to smash it , not just locally but worldwide , but also some new names showcasing the range of skills and talent we have here in the region .”
FINALIST
ACHIEVE HOSPITALITY ( Middlesbrough )
In the bronze medal position – with a growth in turnover of 191 % to £ 466,000 – was Achieve Hospitality , recruiting for luxury hospitality , yachts , jets and the ultra-high net-worth community .
FINALIST
SOVEREIGN SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES ( Middlesbrough )
Warehousing and distribution firm Sovereign achieved a growth of 181 % in its annual turnover to more than £ 900,000 .
FINALIST
RADICAL FORGE ( Middlesbrough )
Increasing its annual turnover by 100 % to nearly £ 2.2m was games development success story Radical Forge .
FINALIST
TEKBUILD ( Middlesbrough )
Steel erecting specialist Tekbuild achieved a growth in annual turnover of 98 % to more than £ 5.2m .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 147