STANDOUT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
SPONSORED BY MOONRISE 24HR RECRUITMENT
FINALIST
Salvify
Bouncing back – Jessica Gwaringa presents Sarah Walker with the Outstanding Achievement trophy .
WINNER
SARAH WALKER ( SASS Media )
Running a business can be tough at the best of times , let alone when you ’ re recovering from mental health struggles .
But that ’ s just what Sarah Walker ’ s had to do – and she ’ s done it in inspirational fashion .
And now , after several near misses , the business she started with close friend and fellow former Gazette journalist Sarah Dale , SASS Media , has won TWO Best New Tees Business Awards .
The company , which the two Sarahs formed in 2022 , won the Best New Creative Business title , while Sarah Walker also won the Standout Achievement category .
Based in Regus Fast Track House in Thornaby , SASS Media has established a strong base of clients , including its first contract – Bishop Chadwick Education Trust – along with the likes of Jacksons Law Firm and Croxdale Motor Group in Durham . But Sarah , of Middlesbrough , freely admits it ’ s been quite the journey to get here . After having her two boys , Sarah twice experienced post-natal mental illness . During her recovery , she worked at a local health trust helping other women get through similar problems , only to find it adversely affected her because she was always exposed to it .
However , with her health improving , a LinkedIn message , saying someone was looking for a writer and would she consider it , put her on the path to her own business .
After first testing the waters with Sarah Walker Writing Services , the chance to team up with her pal Sarah Dale brought SASS Media to the table .
She said : “ It ’ s part of who I am . After my second episode of psychosis , I was diagnosed with bipolar – but I live well with that . I want people to know that just because you have a diagnosis doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t achieve things .
“ To start with , I didn ’ t want to talk about it in case it put people off me . But then I realised that if it did , they ’ re not a person I ’ d want to work with .
“ I ’ d rather be honest and say , ‘ Yes , some days I might struggle ’.”
By successfully launching an innovative platform designed to solve the critical issue of medical inventory management , Salvify is using realworld experience to address a vital gap in the healthcare sector by streamlining inventory tracking and ensuring that medical teams are always prepared .
Despite the challenges of being a bootstrapped startup , Salvify launched early this year and quickly secured six national clients in a few weeks .
This rapid success highlights the platform ’ s value , offering a unique solution to a problem that affects patient safety and operational efficiency , and has already made Salvify a key player in the medical inventory management sector .
FINALIST
SimFly Aviation Training
SimFly is soaring thanks to its immersive , technology-driven approach to education . By using advanced flight simulators and through a partnership with Plane Reclaimers that provides ongoing free training resources , SimFly offers unparalleled , hands-on learning experiences – an innovative model that reduces operational costs and enhances the quality of training , making aviation education more accessible and engaging .
Its strong ties with schools and colleges further solidifies its role as a critical educational resource , inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals . And with plans to expand its reach and offerings , SimFly is poised for significant growth .
SPONSOR ’ S REFLECTIONS :
Jessica Gwaringa , founder and CEO , Moonrise 24hr Recruitment : These awards recognise the great things new businesses and the people behind them are doing out there . It ’ s nice to give that acknowledgment to others so they know they ’ re doing well .
All the nominated businesses are winners but when I looked at Sarah ’ s profile , it did touch my heart . I am someone who always feels that whatever you ’ ve gone through in life , you can use it to have a positive impact .
162 | Tees Business