Host returns, charity championed
AWARDS
Tech that – Double Eleven’ s Kimberley Turner and Mark South with awards organisers Dave Allan, left, and Martin Walker, right.
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Tees Tech team- from left: Dave Allan( Tees Business), Bob Cuffe MBE( host), Hassan Hameed( Teesside Hospice), Steph Bales( Teesside University) and Kimberley Turner( Double Eleven).
HEAVEN
Tees Tech Awards secures new headline sponsor and venue
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global games developer says it is“ standing tall” with other local digital firms after being unveiled as the headline sponsor of the seventh annual Tees Tech Awards – with a new venue also confirmed.
Double Eleven, headquartered in Middlesbrough’ s impressive Boho X building, has agreed to the lead sponsorship of the Tees Tech Awards 2026, which will for the first time take place at Teesside University’ s Digital Life building on the evening of Thursday, June 4.
One of the UK’ s most prominent and fastgrowing independent games studios, Double Eleven’ s team has worked on big-name video games such as Red Dead Redemption, Minecraft Dungeons, Fallout 76 and Lego Harry Potter.
Double Eleven’ s co-CEOs Kimberley Turner and Mark South say their backing of the region’ s annual tech sector celebration reflects its affinity for a region that remains a crucial part of the firm’ s heritage and future.
Kimberley said:“ We are delighted to be headline sponsors for this year’ s Tees Tech Awards. Double Eleven’ s origins are deeply rooted in Teesside – the region has been part of our story since the beginning and a firm fixture in our future.
“ We are immensely proud to sponsor these awards and in doing so stand tall alongside the region’ s talented and ambitious tech businesses, great and small, that are delivering products, services and experiences on a global scale from here in Teesside.”
Mark added:“ The Tees Tech Awards are the perfect opportunity for our region’ s tech businesses to showcase their talent and share stories of how they are building the industries of tomorrow and redefining what Teesside is known for.
“ At Double Eleven, we have always carved out our own path and we are excited to support and celebrate others on their journey.”
Dave Allan, director of Tees Tech Awards organiser Tees Business, said Double Eleven’ s support recognised the important role the event plays in celebrating the region’ s thriving tech sector, which was last year named as the fastest-growing in the UK.
“ Securing the region’ s leading tech firm as headline sponsor alongside confirmation that Teesside University’ s stunning Digital Life building is our new venue for the Tees Tech Awards is a double coup that we’ re incredibly excited about,” said Dave.
“ Despite some well-known challenges for the global tech sector, there’ s much to celebrate across the various elements of our regional tech and digital sector, and that’ s exactly what we’ ll be doing at our seventh annual awards.”
Host returns, charity championed
Bob Cuffe MBE will return to host this year’ s Tees Tech Awards on a night that will see funds raised for Teesside Hospice.
Bob, who was previously nonexecutive director of organiser Tees Business, has agreed to return for this year’ s event, having hosted the Tech Awards in 2023 and 2024.
“ I’ m absolutely delighted to be hosting the Tees Tech Awards at the exciting new Digital Life venue at Teesside University,” he said.“ These awards showcase the unique talent, innovation and people that mark Teesside out as a digital hotspot. I’ m thrilled to be invited back as host and thank Double Eleven – an exemplar of Teesside’ s digital capabilities – for sponsoring the awards.”
Funds will be raised for Teesside Hospice through a prize envelope draw as Tees Business approaches £ 50,000 raised at its various awards events.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 143