SUCCESS
TOO GOOD TO BE
TREW ! prestigious
Name in lights – Neil Trewick , founder of Stockton-based Trew Surveying , on stage with FSB Awards host Tess Daly .
Teessider crowned winner at national business awards
Neil Trewick , a residential building surveyor from Ingleby Barwick , was crowned the Best Self Employed / Freelancer in the UK at a Gala Awards ceremony at the iconic Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom in Blackpool , which was hosted by Strictly Come Dancing ’ s Tess Daly , in May .
The director of Trew Surveying was shortlisted for the UK finals after winning the North East Award for Best Self Employed / Freelancer in March 2024 .
Organised by the Federation of Small Businesses ( FSB ), these national awards showcase the exceptional talent within the small to medium sized businesses in the UK and recognise those who have demonstrated excellence in their category .
This year was the FSB ’ s 50th anniversary and competition across the 12 categories was tough with 12 regional winners all competing for the ultimate prize .
Winners – Stockton ’ s Neil Trewick joined all winners on stage at the national FSB Awards , held in Blackpool ’ s Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom .
The North-East is the smallest of the 12 regions which consisted of the best that Scotland , Wales , Northern Ireland , the North-East , Yorkshire and Humber , the North-West , East Midlands , West Midlands , London , South-East , South-West and East of England had to offer .
Neil , 39 , a former Teesside University business graduate , said : “ I was absolutely blown away when I heard I had even won the FSB North East Award .
“ Now to win the UK award is unbelievable . I don ’ t think the enormity of this achievement has really sunk in or fully registered just yet but I guess it is vindication for all the hard work and risks I have taken over the last couple of years .
“ It is a real feather in the cap for my young business and hopefully just the beginning of bigger things to come . My mum was just impressed that I got to meet Tess Daly !
“ I knew going into this award that the North-East and particularly us Teessiders tended not to fare well on a national scale .
“ Being the smallest region from the beginning the odds are already stacked against you with the North-East not faring well in previous years but that doesn ’ t stop us - we always manage to punch above our weight and do best when we ’ re the underdogs !”
Trew Surveying ’ s rise hasn ’ t gone under the radar locally and Neil is proud to have won the award for Best New Sole Trader at the 2022 and 2023 Tees Business Awards , in addition to being shortlisted in the final 10 for the RICS Residential
Surveyor of the Year Award in 2023 .
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ( RICS ) has also recognised the great work Neil and Trew Surveying have been doing and has shortlisted Neil as one of eight surveyors up for the MATRICS Residential Surveyor of the Year Award for a second consecutive year which will be announced on November 15 . Hopefully this year will be the year the trophy comes back home .
In addition to this , Trew Surveying has been shortlisted as one of six companies in the prestigious RICS UK awards in the Outstanding Contribution to Surveying category , which will be announced in October this year .
Neil added : “ I am becoming a bit of an awards night veteran , which is absolutely ridiculous considering I was made redundant only two years ago with no experience of setting up or running a business prior to this .
“ If someone had told me back then I would be a UK award winner , and my business would be one of the sponsors of my beloved Middlesbrough FC , I would asked for a pint of whatever they were drinking !
“ I ’ ve found a way to overcome every obstacle so far and taken everything in my stride and learnt as I go .
“ Trew Surveying is now well recognised and respected within the surveying industry nationally and is beginning to establish itself as a solid local business that Teessiders can be proud of .”
Visit trewsurveying . co . uk
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