SME OF
THE YEAR
Sponsored by Punch Robson Solicitors
WINNER:
HUNTERS
TEESSIDE
Hunters Teesside celebrated victory in the
SME of the Year category. Lisa Preston
and Georgina Branson made the bold
decision to start an estate agency and
lettings business in 2010 in the middle of
the worst recession in living memory and
with zero properties. Yet they have grown
to become Teesside’s third biggest agent
and are now challenging to move into
second place.
Property sales have increased by 82%
over the past five years, with income to its
all-female lettings department increasing
by 82% since 2013, and 100% customer
satisfaction figures were recently
achieved.
Twelve of Hunters’ 13 staff are women,
with good friends and leadership team
Lisa and Georgina the driving force behind
growth.
Jubilant Georgina said: “When we first
started it was me and Lisa and nothing
in a small office. It felt like us against the
world and it has grown massively through
hard work. I love Lisa and all of our team,
and all of our hard work has paid off. This
award is a pat on the back – it could be a
like a BRIT Award for us!
“We have an amazing team who work
very well together, and everyone has got
the same goal.
“I think women are a lot more
determined than men sometimes, and the
future is bright and is about growth.”
Lisa added: “We want to be role models
to show young girls leaving school going
into college, university and business that
women can be just as successful as men.”
Elaine McLaine-Wood (left) of category sponsors Punch Robson Solicitors presents the SME
of the Year award to Georgina Branson (centre) and Lisa Preston of Hunters Teesside.
Helen Gill of Chadwicks Inn Maltby.
RUNNER-UP:
Alison Crake of Crake & Mallon.
RUNNER-UP:
Chadwicks Crake & Mallon
Chadwicks Inn is an award-winning
restaurant and pub in the quiet Teesside
village of Maltby, opened by Helen Gill
and her former Middlesbrough FC player
husband Gary in 2009. The business now
has four partners, with mum-of-two Helen
the sole female, and is one of the area’s
must-try eateries.
Chadwicks has retained a prestigious
Michelin Bib Gourmand for a third
consecutive year and 2AA rosettes for
the eighth consecutive year – it’s the
only Tees Valley restaurant with both
accolades. Chadwicks currently has 18
employees, seven of them female, and
turnover has increased by 43% in the last
five years. Alison Crake is the senior partner of
Crake & Mallon, and the immediate past
president of the National Association of
Funeral Directors. A passionate advocate
for both the funeral profession and the
bereaved, Alison has devoted her 39-
year career to promoting and upholding
the highest possible standards, and
has recently used her national profile
to highlight the impact of government
policy on the most vulnerable families.
Crake & Mallon Funeral Service is an
independent family-owned company of
29 employees that has been providing
funeral services to Teesside since 1971.
Turnover for the year ending 2017 was
£3m.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
Punch Robson’s managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood:
“It was an honour to sponsor the Tees Businesswomen
Awards and see the fantastic women of our region being
celebrated.
“Increasingly, women are representing companies at
the highest level, with the glass ceiling certainly starting to
crack. It’s important to remember that recognition needs to
be earned, regardless of gender.
“We must work hard, earn respect and not expect
privileges simply because we are women.
“I’m proud to work in the Tees Valley, and retaining our
home-grown talent is vital and something we, and many
other Teesside businesses are proud to support.”