SME OF
THE YEAR
Sponsored by Punch Robson
WINNER:
ADDITIONAL
LENGTHS
Victoria Lynch paid tribute to her family
and the team behind her as she admitted
being “gobsmacked” by her company’s
award.
“I’ve got to thank my whole staff
because without them, and the support
from family and friends over the past 16
years, this wouldn’t be possible,” she
said. “My mum’s been a massive support,
as has my partner, who sits quietly in the
background.
“The calibre of businesses here is just
something else and it’s brilliant to see
women in industry being championed.
Men get a lot of recognition, but these
women have the fight and determination
to be on that stage.”
Victoria founded Stockton-based
Additional Lengths in her bedroom
and has built it into a leading hair
extension specialist, distributing products
worldwide and also running an in-house
salon and training academy.
The firm currently has a 95 per cent-
female workforce of 20 and recently
reported a record turnover of £7m and
£1.6m profit.
“This is one of the highest accolades
I’ve had,” Victoria said. “It’s taken
dedication, passion, sacrifices and blood,
sweat and tears, but that’s what business
is all about. As long as you put the effort
in, this is what you can aim for.”
FINALIST: FINALIST:
Tees Components BePro
Since its foundation in 1963, North
Skelton-based Tees Components has
developed into one of the country’s
leading heavy machinists, producing
precision parts 24 hours a day and
working on high-profile projects including
the Channel Tunnel, Wembley Arch and
the Humber Bridge. Managing director
Sharon Lane has blazed a trail in a
traditionally male-dominated industry
and helped the company successfully
diversify into new markets. The company
now serves industries including offshore
renewables, defence, nuclear and
decommissioning and marine and last
year the workforce grew by five to 65.
Tees Components also works closely
with training providers to support STEM
careers. Stokesley-based BePro has become
one of the country’s most trusted
HR apprenticeship providers, winning
contracts with major companies, councils
and NHS trusts. Mother and daughter
duo Val Swales and Georgina Selmi
created the company in 2014, achieving
Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development approval and offering
one or two classes a year that they
taught themselves. There are now 13
classes throughout the UK with nearly
300 learners, mostly women. Last year
turnover increased by 148 per cent and
net profit by 313 per cent. There are
currently 14 employees, 92 per cent of
them female, with a growth rate of one
additional staff member per month.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
Elaine McLaine-Wood, managing partner at Punch Robson
Solicitors, said: “Punch Robson were delighted to sponsor
the SME award for the Tees Businesswomen Awards for
the second year running.
“The number of applications for the award had increased
and the bar was high. The shortlisted companies were
Additional Lengths, Tees Components and BePro. The three
companies are all very different.
“The winner of the award was Additional Lengths
and what stood out to us when judging was how much
the turnover of the business had grown each financial
year, what the company does – not just for beauty but
professional services for hair loss sufferers – and the
passion of Victoria Lynch the managing director.
“It is a company that distributes globally and is an
amazing gem of a company for Teesside!”