Tees Business Tees Business issue 17 | Page 81

Serving the Teesside Business Community | 81 / MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS BUBBLY IS SPONSORED BY TEES PRINT AND DESIGN FIRM Middlesbrough video game studio Sock Monkey has doubled its head count – and plans to employ 50 people by 2021 – after carrying out work for major names including Sega and Unilever, while it is currently developing a translation app that will be used by the NHS. #TalkingUpTeesside A long-established Tees printing company has joined the long list of local businesses supporting this year’s Tees Businesswomen awards, in association with Northern Skills Group. Tees Business organised the inaugural awards ceremony which was attended by 280 people at Wynyard Hall last November. The organisers are planning an even bigger and better event for 2019, having already increased capacity by moving the event to Wynyard’s stunning Grand Marquee. Middlesbrough-based Teesprint and Design – a family-run firm established in 1982 – is the latest local firm to support the awards after its associated company, Crystal Galleries, produced the stunning trophies for last year’s event. Teesprint has agreed to sponsor the prosecco reception for the glitzy night on October 24 this year. Director Jo Lowes, who has worked for the family firm along with managing director Jeremy Lowes for 36 years, said: “It’s nice to recognise local women in industry and support that with the awards. “It’s about recognising the gender inequality in business and especially industry. As a director I recognise I’m probably in the minority, so it’s nice to support other women who are being really successful in their own right. “I do quite a lot with ladies in the local area so it means a lot to me personally to support these awards.” Tees Business co-editor Martin Walker said: “We worked closely with Jo and Jeremy in producing the high-quality awards last year so it’s fantastic to have Teesprint and Design involved in this year’s event.” Northern Skills Group have again agreed to headline sponsor the 2019 Tees Businesswomen Awards, joining category sponsors Teesside University, Cornerstone Business Solutions, px Group, RMS Recruitment, Punch Robson Solicitors, Developments by Joseph Homes and SABIC. Only three category awards are now available to sponsor, including Charity/ Voluntary, Lifelong Inspiration and Best New Business. To enquire email info@teesbusiness. co.uk, call 01642 450255 or download a Media Pack via www.teesbusiness.co.uk. Teesprint and Design director Jo Lowes, who has agreed to sponsor the prosecco reception drinks for this year’s Tees Businesswomen Awards event at Wynyard Hall in October. SOFTWARE FIRM GROWS WITH SUPPORT Our steel to build £55m TeesAMP A contractor has been appointed to take the £55m TeesAMP Advanced Manufacturing Park in Middlesbrough from blueprint to reality. Robertson North East has been commissioned to construct phase one of the development and the first units will be ready for occupation in December. To add to the great news, local firm Nationwide Structures, based in Stockton, has been appointed as steel fabricator and around 90% of the 750 tonnes of steel will come from British Steel at Redcar. Tech firm reveals ambitious expansion plans A fast-growing Teesside tech company is gearing up for further growth with expansion into EU and international markets. Appamondo, based in Middlesbrough’s Boho One, is a Zendesk Premier Partner established in 2012 specialising in the design, build and deployment of digital help and support services. Director Michael Smith is forecasting double-digit revenue growth in 2019, having seen a 45% increase in 2018, as the organisation strengthens its position as a service and solution provider in the UK and Europe. A company has been helped to develop innovative new software for business thanks to the support of Innovate Tees Valley. Tad Web Solutions, based in Commerce House, Middlesbrough, is a digital agency which develops and designs websites and software systems. Innovate Tees Valley, led by Teesside University, works with companies to help them try new things in their business and create and improve services, products and processes. It is formed from a partnership of Teesside University, DigitalCity, NEPIC and MPI with funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The Innovate Tees Valley graduate placement scheme part-funds the salary of a graduate for up to six months, and Tad Web Solutions used it to recruit Teesside University BSc Web and Multimedia graduate Chris Tyerman as a front-end web developer. HALCYON DAYS AHEAD Teesside- based haulage firm Halcyon Tankers plans to expand with a number of new vehicles after securing a £250,000 investment. The firm, which operates a fleet of bulk chemical road tankers from its Middlesbrough base, has secured the loan from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). Halcyon was launched in January 2018 when directors Ian Elliott, Andrew Spence-Wolrich and Nigel Barraclough bought the assets of Halcyon Tankers, a division of Hargreaves plc.