2019
COMPANY OF
THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cornerstone
WINNER:
JACKSONS
LAW FIRM
Jane Armitage praised the positive
impact of the Tees Businesswomen’s
Awards and said the way the Tees
Valley supports women in business sets
an example to the whole country.
“The awards are a fantastic showcase
for what women are doing,” said the
managing partner of Jacksons Law
Firm. “You can see so many diverse
businesses up for awards and women
working in so many different careers.
“The Tees Valley is very supportive of
its businesswomen and a fine example
for the rest of the country and for
young people in this area to see they
can have not only an amazing career,
but they can do it here.”
Stockton-based Jacksons offers
a wide range of legal services to
businesses and private clients across
the North-East.
Around three-quarters of the firm’s 80
staff are women, including partners, and
it offers flexible working opportunities
that particularly benefit female staff.
Last year’s turnover increased to
£3.4m with £563,000 profit and this
year’s figures are exceeding ambitious
targets.
“We have a very strong team and
this award is fantastic recognition for
everyone,” said Jane. “It will go in our
reception, so every client sees it when
they walk through the door.”
FINALIST: FINALIST:
Additional Lengths Wynyard Hall
Managing director Victoria Lynch started
the business from a bedroom in 2003.
Additional Lengths became a limited
company four years later and in the last
financial year turned over £7m, with
record gross profits of £1.6m. Based in
Stockton, the company distributes hair
extensions and associated products
worldwide and has an in-house salon
and training academy. The business has
20 employees, 95 per cent of whom are
female. Recent innovations include a hair
recycling scheme, allowing extensions
to be made into hair mats to soak up oil
spills, while the company also offers a
service for women suffering hair loss or
having cancer treatment. Wynyard Hall is an award-winning hotel
that welcomed 100,000 visitors last year
and offers 19 bespoke bedrooms, five
cottages and a 2AA Rosette restaurant.
It is also one of the region’s leading
event venues, with its Grand Marquee
accommodating up to 650. Much of the
business today is the vision of managing
director Allison Antonopoulos. Wynyard
Hall has around 200 staff, including 100
per cent female sales and marketing and
accounts teams. Turnover has increased
by around £500,000 annually for several
years and last year hit £5.3m. Wynyard
Hall says it does look to generate a profit
and uses income to support an important
historic asset.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
Cornerstone Business Solutions managing director Chris
Petty said: “To sponsor and judge the Tees Businesswomen
Awards for the second year was a pleasure and an
honour. What a fantastic night and to see and hear the
amazing things that women are doing in the Tees Valley is
inspirational
“Judging this category is always difficult and this year
the entries were all fantastic. All three finalists in their own
way are winners, with fantastic businesses. Everyone in the
region knows how fantastic Wynyard Hall is and it’s always
a pleasure to visit. Additional Lengths is an amazing success
story that’s quickly growing and conquering the worldwide
market.
“We chose Jacksons Law Firm as the winner as their
entry was very in depth and gave us a breakdown of each
individual woman within the business, as well as managing
partner Jane Armitage, and what part they had played
within the business to help grow their department.
“We’re already looking forward to next year’s awards.”