The voice of business in the Tees region | 23
Tracerco sponsors
Innovation category
B
illingham-headquartered global award-
winning business Tracerco is backing
the Tees Tech Awards by sponsoring
the Innovation category.
Michael Dent, software applications
and cloud services manager at Tracerco,
said: “The Tees Tech awards coincide with
an exciting time for Tracerco. We have
ambitious growth plans for the future with
a heavy focus on product development and
innovation, particularly our digital services.
“Together with our passion for talent in
the region, the Innovation of the Year award
is a natural fit for us.
“There are some phenomenal things
happening in Teesside in the digital and
creative sectors right now, from the existing
passionate companies of the Boho region
to the future plans to make Middlesbrough
a true digital city. It’s been really exciting to
see the digital scene in the region evolve
over the last few years and it’s an honour to
be a part of celebrating it.
“We’re really keen to collaborate with
other software and digital teams in the
region. I’d encourage anyone in the sector,
from start-ups to corporates, to visit
Tracerco and to find out more about what
we do.”
David Dixon of DigitalCity, one of the
co-founders of the Tees Tech Awards,
said: “Being one of the Tees Valley’s best
innovators, it is a huge coup for the Tees
Tech Awards to have a brand as powerful
as Tracerco providing sponsorship for the
Innovation award.
“Tracerco have often approached
Innovators – David Dixon (left), from Tees Tech
Awards co-founders DigitalCity, with Tracerco
software applications and cloud services manager
Michael Dent (centre) and the firm’s product
development and innovation director Ian Croston.
DigitalCity to ask how they can help some
of our younger and smaller businesses. We
see this sponsorship as a very significant
foundation stone to develop their huge
stores of knowledge and experience.
“The Tees Tech Awards represent a huge
opportunity to showcase the wonderful
and often hidden talent and perhaps more
importantly the successes that the whole
of the Tees Valley digital community has to
offer.
“This is a great opportunity to celebrate,
raise awareness of our businesses on a
national and international scale and perhaps
most importantly help to inspire the next
generation of business owners to start up,
grow and then scale in the Tees Valley.
“The awards will also highlight the power
that digital and technology can have on
increasing productivity and profitability
across all industries.
“We very much see this as an
opportunity to show that “digital
transformation” costs can often be relatively
small in comparison to the significant
positive impact.”
Baldwins backing for Tech Awards
A
ccountancy firm Baldwins say their
support for the first Tees Tech Awards is
part of a commitment towards helping the
region become a “Digital Hercules”.
Baldwins, who have a local base at
Wynyard Park, are sponsoring the Digital
Transformation category at the inaugural
event, which will take place at nearby
Wynyard Hall on April 23 2020.
Andrew Rowe said: “Baldwins
are delighted to sponsor the Digital
Transformation Award as this is a huge part of
what we do with our clients on a daily basis.
“We believe passionately in helping
businesses to use technologies to improve
their processes, management information
and ultimately their profitability and cashflow.
“In partnership with DigitalCity and
Teesside University, we have supported
businesses across the region - from start-
ups to long established companies - and
witnessed the transformation that investment
in technology can bring.
“This region was built on the industrial
revolution and we see the growing success
of Teesside’s Tech sector driving the next
digital revolution.
“We are excited about Middlesbrough
mayor Andy Preston’s ambitious plans for
Support – Baldwins managing partners Joane
Regan and Andrew Rowe with Tees Business
co-editor Dave Allan (left) and David Dixon
(right) from DigitalCity.
the Boho area. However, the businesses
undertaking this journey will need the
support of professionals such as ourselves
to become the ‘Digital Hercules’ we believe
this region can be.”
Dave Allan, director of Tees Tech Awards
organisers Resolution Media and Publishing,
said: “We expect the competition to be the
first Digital Transformation award-winner to
be one of the most keenly fought, as it’s
such a key element of the challenge and
change many businesses are going through.
“Having leading companies such as
Baldwins supporting our inaugural event is
a great coup for us and helps spread the
word about what I’m sure will be a hugely
positive celebration of a digital sector that’s
thriving but has the potential to grow much
further.”
Rising star category – Middlesbrough
College principal Zoe Lewis with Daniel
Watson of Middlesbrough Digital, co-
founders of the Tees Tech Awards.
College sponsors
Rising Star category
M
iddlesbrough College is backing
the inaugural Tees Tech Awards by
sponsoring the Rising Star category.
Middlesbrough College principal Zoe
Lewis said: “Middlesbrough College are
delighted to sponsor the Tees Tech Awards
and celebrate the region’s digital sector.
“As a college we are always abreast of
current trends and sadly, the number of
people studying computing or a digital-
related subject at school is dropping
sharply at about 20 per cent per year –
while jobs in that sector here in the Tees
Valley are going up about 10 per cent per
year.
“We’re on a mission, here at
Middlesbrough College, to work with local
businesses to turn that around and inspire
people from a young age to think about
digital as a possible career option.
“Digital spans across all industries, it’s
part of every business and is growing
considerably so if we can turn that decline
around and encourage young people
to consider it as an option, their career
opportunities will open up in front of
them.
“The awards are a great way to
showcase those opportunities and help
raise the profile of the Tees Valley’s
thriving digital sector. “
Middlesbrough Digital, along with
Digital City, are co-founders of the Tees
Tech Awards.
Daniel Watson from Middlesbrough
Digital said: “We’re thrilled that
Middlesbrough College is supporting the
launch of the Tees Tech Awards.
“Middlesbrough College already boasts
fantastic links into the digital tech sector
locally, and this is a further showcase of
their commitment to the development of
the sector.
“This is a pivotal and extremely exciting
time for the digital tech sector in the Tees
Valley, with the recent announcement
that £45m has been secured for the first
phase of a £250m masterplan to turn
Middlesbrough into THE Digital City of the
UK.
“This project is merited, and needed, on
the back of the significant growth we’ve
seen in the sector over the last few years,
and the Tees Tech Awards will provide us
with the ultimate platform to shout about
the successes which have led to this
sector growth.”