TURNOVER
SMALL BUSINESS(£ 250,000 TO £ 3M TURNOVER)
FINALIST
GLC Projects
Hartlepool
Increased turnover from £ 750,000 to £ 2,239,000- 214 % increase GLC Projects delivers demolition, decommissioning, asbestos removal and site clearance across the north. It has grown rapidly, driven by investment in people, modern plant, technology, strong client relationships and a commitment to safety and quality.
Powered by a skilled and experienced 25-strong workforce, it recently invested heavily in plant, strengthened its operational systems and enhanced its online presence to ensure it is well-placed for further growth.
Congratulations – Gavin Scotchbrook receives Unity Network Technologies’ award from Azets’ Joanne Regan.
WINNER
Unity Network Technologies Middlesbrough
Increased turnover from £ 135,000 to £ 1.7m – 156 % increase Perseverance and a“ passion for tech” helped an IT and communications specialist clinch a VelociTees award for its impressive growth in turnover.
And after accepting the Small Business Turnover award, Unity Network Technologies MD Gavin Scotchbrook explained the background to his company’ s success.
He said:“ It’ s been through customer acquisition, so we’ ve been working really hard. We split the business into finance, service and commercial – and we split the commercial into sales and marketing. We’ re heavily involved in the marketing and sales part and we’ ve really pushed for it. We’ ve also been really lucky to sign some fantastic new customers.”
With 25 years of experience in tech, Gavin said the current digital environment offered new opportunities.
He said:“ We have a passion for tech – anything from software to IT and the internet – so we’ re involved in lots of different projects.
“ Unity Networks is heavily involved in internet connections and the Cloud, so we have a brilliant data centre based in Marske. And as AI and the digital revolution grows, it’ ll become more and more relevant, so these are really interesting times for us.”
Praising Unity CEO Simon Scotchbrook – Gavin’ s older brother – for his“ let’ s give it a go” approach, he noted it was“ really hard” for small businesses and SMEs.
He told the audience:“ It’ s taken a long time to get to here. I’ ll keep failing, I’ ll keep trying, I’ ll keep doing it again and I’ ll keep going – you’ ve just got to keep going at it.
“ Anybody in this room who has worked for SMEs knows how hard it is to get new customers. So, all I’ ll do is keep doing what we’ ve been doing, keep trying – and we’ ll fail – get back up and we go again.”
SPONSOR’ S MESSAGE:
Joanne Regan, office managing partner, Azets Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and Azets are passionate about supporting those businesses and encouraging them to grow. It’ s amazing to see how diverse the four shortlisted businesses are – I wish every single one of them the best of luck and congratulations on being shortlisted.
FINALIST
Nouveau Legal
Middlesbrough
Increased turnover from £ 122,000 to £ 414,000- 239 % increase A“ refreshingly different” commercial law practice, Nouveau Legal – based in Middlesbrough’ s Baker Street – offers specialist guidance on commercial contracts, corporate structuring, disputes and compliance, helping organisations navigate complex legal challenges with clarity and confidence.
Since prioritising its core strengths as a specialist business law practice and refining its service to align with the needs of growthoriented companies, Nouveau has enhanced the client experience and maintained a strong commitment to responsiveness, technical excellence and commercially focused advice.
FINALIST
TU Online
Middlesbrough
Increased turnover from £ 1,046,491 to £ 1,867,593- 178 % increase Teesside University’ s“ digital campus”, TU Online, allows students to follow flexible, online courses designed to fit around their own commitments and circumstances.
Named The Times University of the Year and the Modern University of the Year in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026, Teesside has more than 1,000 students on its open learning courses, with students able to achieve a university-level qualification without having to physically attend campus.
And thanks to TU Online’ s network of support and resources, it’ s a student-first service where“ learning online doesn’ t mean learning alone.”
132 | Tees Business