My Top 3
6th | Martin GILBEY Midas, Middlesbrough Martin Gilbey, 34, is managing director and the driving force behind one of Teesside’ s fastest growing businesses, cladding and sheeting firm Midas. A company whose workforce has doubled in size to 65 in little more than two years, turnover has increased from £ 2.4 million to an anticipated £ 5 million. A former Sports Science student, he was studying for a degree in Criminology and Law at Teesside University when he initially joined Midas to carry out some project work.
5th | Alastair POWELL Cleveland Cable Company, Middlesbrough By any standards, Alastair Powell is an enigma. An internet search reveals no interviews or quotes and precious few mentions of one of the most successful businessmen Teesside has ever known. Earlier this year, Alastair together with his brother and business partner Michael were reported to be worth £ 413 million in The Sunday Times Rich List. The 64-year-old is chief executive of Riverside Park-based Cleveland Cable Company, the UK’ s foremost distributor of cables. Cleveland Cable employ a workforce of more than 450 employees.
4th | Steve COCHRANE Psyche, Middlesbrough He has rubbed shoulders with royalty, put Boy George up for the night and dined with Tinie Tempah. Described as eccentric by his own staff, Steve Cochrane is a former ICI engineer and rigger who set up designer shop Psyche in 1982 and has remained loyal to Middlesbrough, establishing the famous boutique among Vogue’ s top 100. His 35,000 sq ft Linthorpe Road store now employs more than 60 staff and exports to almost every country in the world. Last year Cochrane was targeting a £ 10 million turnover by 2017.
3rd Bill SCOTT
Wilton Engineering Services, Port Clarence
Bill Scott
The 2012 North East Entrepreneur of the Year, Bill Scott doesn’ t much like sleep. He often works until 2am, sleeps for four hours and gets back to the job. When he was a 17-year-old apprentice plater Scott vowed that he would one day own his own firm. In 1994, he set up the Wilton Group with business partner Steve Glenn.
Wilton Engineering Services specialise in engineering design, fabrication and construction, analysis, and coatings and services for the onshore and offshore energy industry. In 2013 group turnover was reported to be £ 85 million, with around 600 staff employed though, like many businesses, Wilton has more recently been hit by the extended oil and gas downturn.
2nd Andy PRESTON
Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, Middlesbrough
Andy Preston
Born in Middlesbrough, Andy Preston runs a number of businesses and two influential charities from offices in the town’ s Boho Zone. After initially joining the RAF as a teenager, he gained a degree and became a trainee trader in London ' s financial district. He ultimately built and ran a big fund management business for a large European bank. Since returning to the North-East in 2008, he has invested in and mentored ambitious local companies whilst bringing the former Cleveland Club and Kirby College back to their former glory.
With the help of many local businesses, Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation has raised over £ 1.7 million since he founded it five years ago
But it’ s the charity side on which he has built his local reputation. With the help of many local businesses, Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation has raised over £ 1.7 million since he founded it five years ago. He also launched and runs charity CEO Sleepout, with events at locations such as Boro’ s Riverside Stadium, Wembley Stadium, The Oval, St James’ Park and Cardiff Castle raising around £ 750,000 to fight poverty.
Serving the Teesside Business Community | 15
1st Steve GIBSON OBE
Bulkhaul / Middlesbrough FC
The run-away winner of our poll, Gibson received nearly three times as many votes as anyone else. His role as owner of Middlesbrough FC, where he has been chairman since December 1993, is well documented, having taken the club through the most successful period in its history and, once again, back into the Premier League. Hailed as the King of Teesside, his popularity among the club’ s supporters has rarely been greater and he has long been seen as the best chairman in football. Born in the underprivileged Park End estate of Middlesbrough, in 1979 he became Labour’ s youngest ever councillor, aged 21. Two years later, having borrowed £ 1,000 from his father, he founded Bulkhaul, now an international tank container services company, which specialises in transporting
Gibson received nearly three times as many votes as anyone else.
chemicals around the world. Although its HQ remains on Riverside Park in Middlesbrough, Bulkhaul also boasts bases in mainland Europe, the USA, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, employing more than 400 staff. With a 75 % stake, Gibson is the majority owner of the Gibson O ' Neill Company, with Mike ONeill holding the remaining 25 %. The Gibson O ' Neill group includes Bulkhaul, Middlesbrough FC and Rockliffe Hall Hotel. Gibson O ' Neill profits increased from £ 5.9m to £ 23.7m for the year up to June 30 2015.
My Top 3
Stan Higgins, NEPIC 1 Ian Stark, Chemoxy 2 Steve Gibson, BulkHaul / MFC 3 Ian Clifford, px Group
Zoe Lewis, Middlesbrough College 1 Bill Scott, Wilton Engineering 2 Steve Gibson, Bulkhaul / MFC 3 Sharon Lane, Tees Components
Gary Lumby, Focus on Success 1 Steve Gibson, Bulkhaul / MFC 2 Peter Stephenson, Able UK 3 Alastair Powell, Cleveland Cable Company
Simon Scotchbrook, Agile 1 Steve Cochrane, Psyche 2 Les Bell, Bell Stores 3 Steve Gibson, Bulkhaul / MFC
Paul Griffiths, Industrial & Marine Hydraulics 1 Mike O’ Neill, Bulkhaul 2 Barney Ord, Fairfield Industries 3 Steve Gibson, Bulkhaul / MFC
See how more Tees business leaders voted on www. teesbusiness. co. uk.